Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
WOMEN-led businesses have been commended for their impact in not only driving the economy but also the creation of local employment opportunities among communities.
This comes at a time when, according to the 2021 micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) survey, 56,4 percent of MSMEs in Zimbabwe are female-owned, signifying their positive contribution to economic development.
Officially opening the Matabeleland North Provincial Business Expo in Lupane last Friday, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, said several women-led businesses were doing well.
“As we celebrate the rich enterprise culture in this Province, let us take a moment to honour the women who are breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
“Here in Matabeleland North, Ms Rona Ndlovu has distinguished herself in the field of furniture upholstery, her designs are not only functional but also innovative and now enjoy a growing market across provinces,” she said.
“In agriculture, Ms Siphatisiwe Sibanda is excelling in tobacco farming, proving that the land knows no gender when paired with knowledge and commitment.
“In the tourism sector, we are proud to see women-owned and managed lodges thriving particularly in Victoria Falls with establishments such as Dzimbahwe, Mosi oa Tunya, Teak, Mawuya, Wild Trekker, and Mushangwe standing out as shining examples.”
She said these women were a reminder that entrepreneurship was not about conformity, it was about courage.
The minister said the women’s stories deserve recognition and replication, while they were role models for the next generation of women leaders.
Sen Mutsvangwa, who during the Expo, launched the Women in Business Association for Matabeleland North Province said the association is a direct response to the need for women entrepreneurs to speak with one voice, to share resources and to claim their space at the decision-making table.
She said the association will provide women in business with a collective identity, a structured network and an avenue to engage with funders, policymakers and markets.
“With innovation hubs emerging at all institutions of higher learning, such as Lupane State University, entrepreneurs now have access to laboratories, mentorship, and the tools they need to transform new ideas into market-ready solutions.”
“These innovation spaces are creating vibrant ecosystems where creativity is encouraged and supported. They provide an environment where aspiring business owners can test, refine, and scale their concepts.”
The minister said by connecting academic knowledge with real-world enterprise, they were fostering collaborations across sectors and disciplines, leading to more sustainable and impactful ventures.
“The ministry continues to champion the simplification of business registration to foster a more conducive environment for entrepreneurs. We have assisted several SMEs go through the registration process with the Registrar of Companies, and the Office of the Registrar has been particularly helpful in digitising procedures, reducing paperwork and shortening turnaround times ensuring that small businesses can formalise quickly and transparently.”
The expo ran under the theme: “Empowering SMEs for a Sustainable Future: Compliance, Innovation and Integrity.”
In its fourth edition, it is coordinated by the Zimbabwe Education Fund (Zimefu) in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the Matabeleland North Chamber of SMEs.
Matabeleland North boasts mineral resources like coal, gold, coal-bed methane gas, teak timber, lithium and abundant wildlife, fish and fertile agricultural soils among others.
Bongani Ndlovu