admin
Roselyne Sachiti Features, Health and Society Editor
When Covid-19 emerged, it brought life to a screeching halt as the world was caught unaware.
Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs, especially those into cross border trade were left counting loses as borders were closed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
With limited movements, women had to find other means to eke a living.
As Zimbabwe commemorates women’s month, women entrepreneurs have stood out stronger and become more innovative in the wake of the pandemic.
One such woman is 36 year-old Zimbabwean woman Shyvonne Mhene Anderson, based in South Africa.
In the wake of Covid-19 she created a fast-growing online shopping platform that has eased business for users across the globe.
The co-founder and the powerhouse of Mupedzanhamo online shop – a platform that provides convenience to customers across the globe – Anderson is a happily married mother of three who was born in Chitungwiza, were she also cut her teeth in the marketing spheres, before migrating to South Africa in 2009.
When various countries were placed on lockdown after the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, Anderson came up with the idea of creating Mupedzanhamo online shop, a platform which allows users to buy groceries, hardware material, pharmaceutical products and access insurance services from the comfort of their homes using their smart gadgets.
The online platform has also created employment for Zimbabwean women back home.
“Mupedzanhamo online shop enables the users to access a variety of goods and services including groceries, medication, hardware and building material as well as insurance services on our platform” she said.
Anderson said the closure of cross-border business most of Zimbabwean women were engaged in to support their families is one of the many reasons that made her to come up with the Mupedzanhamo online shopping concept.
“From the comfort of your home by simply visiting our website, you can buy groceries for your loved ones back in Zimbabwe from anywhere in the world. It does not end there, you can also buy building material and pay for medication from our platform which will be collected in Zimbabwe. Recently we have also increased our portfolio and one can access insurance services by acquiring yellow card insurance certificates one will produce at Beitbridge border post when crossing in to Zimbabwe to any of the 16 COMESA states from South Africa.
I call upon all other women from anywhere in the world to list any products that they are selling on our platform,” she added.
“The business has brought convenience especially during this Covid-19 pandemic period where there is restricted movement of people across borders. We have created a bridge between those who are abroad and their families who are back in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Reiterating on her understanding of true motherhood, Anderson said: “I am proud to say I have empowered other women by giving them an opportunity to create extra income by contracting them as agents. As a woman and a mother, I know the true meaning of bringing food on the table for a family.”
She says she does not want to occupy the space alone, and believes if women conceive good business ideas with their minds and believe with their heart, they can achieve them.
During women’s month she says: “To other women out there, it’s only you who can change your life and the general perception that the world has on women. Go all out for it.”
Online Reporter