Chronicle Editor
Nonsikelelo Moyo in Victoria Falls
SMALL to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni has encouraged women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the various funding schemes availed by Government to boost their businesses.
In a speech read on her behalf by Matabeleland North provincial enterprise development head, Mr Masauso Phiri during the launch of the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) women’s desk here on Friday, Minister Nyoni said women participation in the mainstream economy was critical.
Some of the initiatives introduced to empower women as well as youths include the $90 million RBZ funding whose breakdown comprise the Gold Support Facility ($40 million), Women Empowerment Fund ($15 million), Horticulture Facility ($10 million), Business Linkages ($10million) and Cross Border Facility ($15 million).
The ministry has also secured a $7.6 million package with Opec Fund for International Development meant to alleviate poverty among women and youths.
“With the new project launched today a lot of the ladies and the community at large will benefit as empowering a woman is empowering the nation. Women have the potential to make a change in our economy,” said Minister Nyoni.
The AAG women’s desk seeks to empower women entrepreneurs to enable them to expand their businesses.
“For a very long time globally as well as nationally, women have played significant roles in the liberation and development of many areas but it is so disappointing to note that they remain on the terraces and never take the centre stage. Women, stop dreaming and start living,” said Minister Nyoni.
She said women had proved that they are better executives at the workplace as evidenced by the companies that were doing better than those led by men.
The minister urged women to form Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), which are part of Government financial inclusion strategies.
The different funding schemes are expected to assist youths and women to boost their income generating projects such as livestock farming, beekeeping, tourism, wood carving and fish farming among others.
The United Nations Development Programme inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods project has injected $5 million to provide seed capital for Binga, Gokwe, Lupane and Nkayi districts.
Victoria Falls has benefited from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation project fund which seeks to capacitate women through skills development.
A total of 200 women have so far benefited.
Speaking at the same event, Victoria Falls Mayor, Sifiso Mpofu applauded AAG for launching the women’s desk.
“AAG like many other organisations has been male-dominated. It is therefore pleasing to note that you have taken it upon yourselves to come up with this initiative. I firmly believe it is the beginning of many developments to come as it further reinforces the idea of involving as many women as possible in the decision-making matrix,” he said.
Clr Mpofu said the initiative would help in reducing the socio-economic gap between men and women.
The launch was attended by among others, AAG chief executive officer Dr Davison Gomo, Government and council officials.
@nonsy_m
Online Reporter