Online Reporter
Dorothy N Sithole
Thirty women’s groups in Insiza North have received a major boost after being equipped with sewing machines to manufacture reusable sanitary pads and other garments as part of efforts to promote self-reliance and fight poverty in rural communities.
The machines were handed over at Ensangu Primary School Village 5 on Saturday, with beneficiaries from Nyozane, Lochard and Shangani wards receiving 10 machines each, together with fabric, thread and scissors.
The initiative, supported by American philanthropist Mrs Julie Phippen through the Methodist Church, is aimed at helping women generate income while improving access to affordable sanitary wear for schoolgirls and elderly women.
The handover ceremony was attended by a Bulawayo Diocese delegation led by Rev Sinini Ndiweni, Elder Mthokozisi Stephen Dube and Church Coordinator Mrs Isabel Ndebele, as well as local leaders including Ward 22 Councillor Cde Kinani Dlodlo and Methodist Church Ensangu Block 5 minister Rev Alister Mashoko.
Speaking during the event, Mrs Ndebele said the donation was about restoring dignity and creating sustainable opportunities rather than providing temporary assistance.
“This promise is here today, but these do not belong to individuals. They belong to you, the community,” she said.
Church leaders said the project was designed to address poverty, reduce challenges faced by girls who miss school due to lack of sanitary wear, and empower women through income-generating activities.
Elder Dube described the sewing machines as a gateway to economic independence.
“This machine is not just metal. It is a door. Walk through it together,” he said.
To promote inclusivity and prevent disputes, leaders agreed that the machines would be housed at nearby schools instead of individual homes, allowing women from different backgrounds to access them.
Mrs Ndebele said placing the machines in one household could create divisions within communities.
“If we keep them in one homestead, jealousy kills projects,” she said.
She said every woman, regardless of religious affiliation, should benefit from the initiative.
Apart from producing reusable sanitary pads, beneficiaries will also be trained to make school uniforms and other garments, expanding opportunities for income generation.
Mrs Phippen pledged the donation after visiting Zimbabwe and hearing women speak about the challenges associated with the high cost and limited availability of sanitary products.
The event also received additional support, with ward 23 shadow councillor, Cde Sikhanyisiwe Nkomo donating US$100 to an orphaned schoolgirl and US$60 to the Shangani group towards transport costs.
Rev Ndiweni, who delivered a sermon from Psalms 127, urged beneficiaries and community leaders to work together for the success of the project.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Let us build together, with one spirit,” he said.
Matabeleland South Zanu PF Women’s League provincial secretary Cde Clara Langa described the initiative as a practical contribution towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
The day ended with songs and celebrations as beneficiaries received their sewing machines, marking what leaders described as a new chapter of empowerment for women in Insiza North.
