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WOMEN in Business Zimbabwe is working on creating a forum to encourage dialogue between women that are already in business and those that are aspiring to start their own businesses. According to the organisation’s new president, Ms Renee Mucherahowa, the initiative is part of the organisation’s efforts to revive its operations following five years of inactivity.
“In 2007, the country started facing economic challenges which also affected our organisation and its membership as a whole,” Ms Mucherawowa said in an interview this week.
“As the president, I am happy that we have managed to resuscitate the organisation with our own funds and we intend to hold a revival conference as soon as possible.
“The forum will be a platform for upcoming young women entrepreneurs to get valuable mentorship from other women who have succeeded in running their business professionally.”
The organisation was founded by Ms Violet Madzimbamuto and 10 other women in Harare and Bulawayo 28 years ago.
It provides a platform for women in business and those wishing to start their own enterprises to exchange ideas on developmental issues relating to the empowerment of Zimbabwean women regardless of race.
It also gathers and disseminate information that is relevant to business operations for its members including the disadvantaged and marginalised girl child.
In addition, it mobilises resources to conduct management training programmes to enhance women’s leadership capacities.
“Membership is voluntary,” said Ms Mucherahowa.
“To become a member, one has to pay a membership fee and then monthly subscription fee. We currently have 200 women who own small-to-medium companies and 3 400 members who are informal traders and they include cross-border traders, service providers such as hairdressers, security guards, cateress and arts in all the country’s 10 provinces.”
WIB-Z is the oldest women-oriented organisation that promotes entrepreneurship development. The organisation has the potential to create employment as most women would be given the opportunity to venture into small businesses.
Through the organisation, women will get opportunity to participate in local, regional and international business conferences and fairs. She, however, noted that the organisation was facing financial challenges and has appealed to the corporate world and the donor community to come in with assistance.
She added the organisation was also lacking information and communication technology skills.
Online Reporter