Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
GENDER mainstreaming and women empowerment continue to be a priority as the Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and its partners seeks to capacitate women to help them reach their full potential.
Over the years, Government has recognised the indispensable role of women in economic growth and societal progress.
Zimbabwe is actively implementing comprehensive policies and initiatives to foster an environment conducive to women’s full participation and meaningful contribution to the nation’s development trajectory.
These multifaceted strategies encompass various sectors and dimensions of society, ranging from economic empowerment programmes to educational initiatives and legal reforms.
In her remarks during the official opening of the ministry’s five-day strategic plan and review workshop, which started in Bulawayo yesterday, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Monica Mutsvangwa commended the achievements made so far in gender mainstreaming, women empowerment and support being rendered to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
During the year, the ministry in partnership with different development partners including UN Women and UNDP, successfully launched the inaugural High-Level Women in Leadership Summit, commissioned the Maker-Space Innovation in Bulawayo, the Chiredzi SMEs Centre and delivered tractors to sugarcane farmers, among other projects.
Minister Mutsvangwa said these milestones are a testament to the resilience and determination of the ministry.
“Our policy priority areas for 2025 should primarily focus on capacitating women, communities and MSMEs through funding, market development, trade promotion, business management and technical skills training, among other initiatives by Zimbabwe Women Micro-Finance Bank, WDF, ZCDF and Smedco,” she said.
Other 2025 focus areas include implementing programs to end child marriages, finalising the Community Development Policy, enacting the Savings and Credit Co-operative Bill, reviewing the Co-operatives Societies Act, developing workspaces for women and MSMEs and operationalising the MSME Advisory Council.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the goal is to continuously capitalise on the Women Micro-Finance Bank and Smedco, strengthen food security, facilitate market access for women and MSMEs through local, regional and international fairs, exhibitions and shows as well as improve social services nationwide.
She said establishing women empowerment clubs, enhancing Gender-Based Violence Response and Mitigation as well as good corporate governance embed transparency and accountability and deliver value for money to the citizens.
“Our President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, emphasises that the second term of the Second Republic must reflect our determination to leapfrog the socio-economic development, modernisation and industrialisation of our country through high-impact results,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“It is against this backdrop that the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development should evolve by benchmarking our ministry’s programs against regional and international standards, mindful of the adage that, kugara nhaka huona dzevamwe.
“However, we must stay true to our identity as a people and address the needs of those we serve. Our ultimate goal, ladies and gentlemen, is the realisation of NDS1, Vision 2030, Agenda 2063, Zanu-PF People’s Congress resolutions and national priorities as articulated by the President of Zimbabwe.”
In her welcoming remarks,read on her behalf by the chief director of gender, policy planning and programme management Mrs Lilian Takaendisa, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry Dr Mavis Sibanda said during the strategic planning session, the ministry is expected to come up with strategies that will see improved service delivery to different constituencies.
She said collective efforts will propel the nation towards the fulfillment of Vision 2030 as enunciated by President Mnangagwa.
“The workshop also seeks to establish key priority areas, performance indicators and outcomes for the ministry’s programmes,” said Dr Sibanda.
“We therefore look forward to everyone’s contributions to this workshop.”
Dr Sibanda congratulated President Mnangagwa on his assumption of the SADC chairmanship saying that it is a testament to Zimbabwe’s commitment to regional co-operation and development. — @SikhulekelaniM1
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