Young women convention next week

Ruth Butaumocho-Managing Editor

YOUNG Women for Economic Development (YW4ED) will next week hold a women’s business convention in Harare.

The convention is expected to bring together thousands of women across Zimbabwe, for an interface with President Mnangagwa to discuss various economic development opportunities for young women in Zimbabwe.

The one-day convention, which is a culmination of various provincial outreach programmes held during the course of the year, will also see a number of women showcasing their products during an exhibition to be held on the day.

Various speakers are also expected to take to the podium to deliberate on an array of business opportunities and on how young women can harness these chances and partake in national broad-based economic drive initiatives.

In an interview, the YW4ED national spokesperson, Tatenda Mavetera said the convention will afford the young women an interactive platform with President Mnangagwa, who has been playing a pivotal role in empowering women through a number of initiatives.

“President Mnangagwa acknowledges the importance of gender equality, hence his decision to liberalise a number of economic spaces through quotas to ensure that women can participate on equal footing with men.

“One of the achievements is the 30 percent procurement quota that women in the small and medium-sized enterprises can now utilise. The facility is not being fully utilised, because the majority of women may not be aware of its existence.

“President Mnangagwa’s proclamation of a 30 percent women quota in councils in line with the constitutional provisions on gender balance, also speaks to his commitment towards gender equality, a development which we do not take for granted.

“We are happy that we now have a leader, who is willing to walk the talk on gender equality issues, without paying lip service to the cause, which has always been the case all these years.”

Mavetera hailed the decision by the President to launch a Presidential Borehole Scheme meant to provide potable water to the people,

“A responsive strategy is also a clear testimony of his passion to empower women, who are the most affected when there is water shortage in communities. President Mnangagwa is giving women spaces to flourish and we have also seen the strides he is making to ensure that our aspirations and needs are catered for.

Mavetera urged young women across political parties to attend the convention and be part of a big economic movement.

YW4ED was launched by the First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, in August last year and the organisation is open to all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation and targets women from the ages of 18 to 45.

Worldwide experience shows clearly that supporting a stronger role for women contributes to economic growth.