Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
ZANU-PF secretary for Women’s League and the President of Senate, Cde Mabel Chinomona, on Friday handed over an egg incubator equipment to Bulawayo Province to empower women in the city and enhance their participation in economic development.
The incubator has a capacity to hatch about 3 600 eggs and will help capacitate locals following the handing over of chicks to all 10 provinces across the country last year.
In her remarks, Cde Chinomona said Bulawayo was the ninth province to benefit from the empowerment project.
“We bring these projects following President Mnangagwa’s vision. The President has said women should be empowered to rise from where they are,” she said.
Cde Chinomona urged women to be hands on and venture into production to create their own wealth and products for consumption, which will help create employment and improve their livelihoods.
She, however, expressed concern over the failure by some women to utilise the opportunities presented to them by the Second Republic.
Cde Chinomona said a lot of projects have been brought to provinces, including training to produce different products, detergents, sewing machines to produce their own clothes, uniforms, and chicks for a pass-on programme.
She, however, said the impact of these has not yet reached a satisfactory level with some women saying the chicks died prematurely, confirming failure to manage the projects properly.
“It seems us women are used to poverty, we are more than 52 percent of the population but we can’t even support each other.
“Why can’t we support each other, and why can’t we do projects and products that can help us have our own businesses than continuing to beg,” said Cde Chinomona.
“Are we created to beg and uplift others rather than uplifting ourselves?”
The Senate president said women must show willingness and enthusiasm to grow and capitalise on projects being brought to them.
“Now, we have brought a hatchery, with a capacity to hatch 3 600 eggs,” said Cde Chinomona.
“The incubator uses electricity, but we brought a solar such that if there is a power cut, the facility continues working.”
She urged women to support each other and to make sure that the projects being implemented by the league bear fruits.
The ruling party has also brought in trainers to train women on poultry projects, which Cde Chinomona said will help reduce cases of chicks dying.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Cde Judith Ncube, said Cde Chinomona approached the
Presidency after finding out that increasing cases of domestic violence were as a result of poverty.
She said if women are engaged in viable projects, they contribute to families’ income and reduce dependence on men.
Bongani Ndlovu