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Kudzanai Sharara in Cairo, Egypt
ZimTrade’s efforts to champion women entrepreneurs and enterprises are bearing fruit with women accounting for a bigger portion of exhibitors at the 2023 Intra-Africa Trade Fair underway here.
Zimtrade is Zimbabwe’s trade development and promotion organisation with the mandate to boost the country’s exports.
As part of its initiatives, ZimTrade runs the Next She Exporter programme targeted at businesses that are wholly female-owned or where women hold at least 51 percent shares of the business.
The programme, which empowers women to be export ready, could not have come at the right time as Africa marches toward the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which gives exporters access to more than 1, 3 billion customers with a GDP of approximately US$3, 5 trillion.
The programme rightly fits into President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind as it catapults previously marginalised women right at the centre of not only national aspirations but continental aspirations as well.
Organisations such as the International Trade Centre (ITC) also highlight the significant role played by women in the global economy as they “invest more in their families than men do, in areas such as education, health and nutrition, creating a secure foundation for the future of their families and communities”.
One of the exhibitors at this year’s IATF is Mrs Choice Rusike whose company Jadesave is into the production of construction products such as oxides, bitumen putty and termite poison among others.
With the support of Zimtrade, Mrs Rusike is exploring export markets and lauded government’s initiatives to support women led businesses.
“Women have been marginalised for a very long time but because of the initiatives of government through constitutional provisions that protect and promote the participation of women in economic spheres we are so excited that Zimtrade has also taken this initiative to actually do the Next She Exporter programme of which I was the 2023 winner.
“I am even more encouraged seeing young women breaking the barriers and participating and it’s very exciting and if you look at the quality of their products, they are amazing, so it really gives me great excitement,” Mrs Rusike said.
One such young woman is Paula Mazvita whose company, Rukunda Pride, is representing Zimbabwe with pride showcasing world class leather products at IATF 2023.
Miss Mazvita said efforts by Zimtrade have gone a long way in uplifting women businesses although more can still be done to bring even more women into the fold.
She said women used to fight for their rights to be at such platforms where they are now slowly being integrated.
“It seems like women are getting support especially in Africa because we used to fight for these rights, to say we also want inclusion in the building of the economies, but to see fellow women that are in enterprises it means that we are growing as women.
“It is also inspiring for me to see women of different ages because I’m in my 20’s right now and if I can see a woman who is younger than me or a woman who is older than me in business it means that the future is bright,” she said.
Miss Mazvita, however said, there is still need for more support, “Especially when it comes to funding and capacity building because already it is hard for us women out there to maneuver our way through business.”
“So sometimes I wish there was a way, a win win situation where corporates , government or the international community would include women led businesses in their suppliers list and give them some sort of security to start work.”
“We do get business sometimes, but then for us to fund them its very difficult. We need patient capital. We need capital and then we fund our businesses then pay back patiently because it is hard already for us out there, ” said Miss Mazvita.
Ms Faith Takundwa said seeing more women exhibitors at IATF 2023 showed massive growth in terms of empowerment and it terms of women being ready to tackle previously male dominated markets.
“It shows that women are being more empowered and are being supported more from growth initiatives, growth in businesses, value addition chains and access to different kind of forums.”
She however said more can still be done in terms of capacity building and funding.
Another young woman Lienne Shonhiwa whose company Manetain Organics is also exhibiting said trade fairs such as IATF 2023 are the kind of platforms where you get to actually see what others are doing out there.
“So it is very inspiring to see that there is so much representation for women, even us as Zimbabweans as well, you can actually see that the more exhibitions we are going there is even more representation and its very encouraging.
“I feel that we need to do more in terms of supporting women because traditionally speaking, these kind of platforms were not necessarily open and encouraging to us as women.
“So it is nice to see that there is more businesses, there is more products and services that are being provided by women. As Zimbabwe we need to keep on pushing, encouraging more women to fly out, to come to these exhibitions, and see what others are doing, just to also start competing at a national scale.”
ZimTrade chief executive officer Allan Majuru said the participation of more women does not only meet the Next She Exporter programme’s objectives but will also encourage other women to follow suit.
“The successes recorded by these participating women at IATF is a positive development that will encourage other women to take part in the mainstream export business.
“It is a statement that this can be done, and some form of peer learning will take part from this, with the current crop of women business-leaders sharing their experiences and journey with women looking to venture into exports,” said Mr Majuru.
The organisers of IATF2023, Afreximbank and the African Union (AU) also took time during the fair to extend their support for women led businesses.
On Saturday the 12th of November, the AU organised a forum to celebrate women as part of the official opening of the Industrialisation Week at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023).
Afreximbank President Professor Benedict Oramah urged women to avail themselves for the diverse facilities offered by Afreximbank for them to benefit more from intra-African trade.
“If you need advisory services, Afreximbank has it.
“If you are an SME and want to become a company of some size, we also have a venture fund that is managed under the fund for export development in Africa (FEDA)”
“For those of you here who are in industrialisation, we want to remind you that you have a strong partner in Afrexim.
“We have a variety of products that are available for you as a business, ” said Professor Oramah.
Online Reporter