By Gift Mashoko
Speaking at a press conference held in Harare, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Sithembiso Nyoni described financial exclusions as a hindrance to women’s potential in achieving their greatness.
“The significant hindrance to women’s potential to achieve their greatness has been financial exclusion which the new dispensation has given priority to redress through the establishment of the Zimbabwe Women Microfinance Bank,” Minister Nyoni said.
She pointed out that the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank was introduced to compliment women empowerment facilities and for women to explore their potential.
“The Bank complements other women empowerment facilities such as the Women’s Development Fund, Zimbabwe Community Development Fund and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Women’s Empowerment Fund. These funds are revolving loans aimed at promoting the economic empowerment of women through the provision of collateral free loans,” she said.
Minister Nyoni indicated that this year’s international theme is in line with the New Dispensation’s vision of becoming a middle income economy by 2030.
“The international theme for this year is ‘Think equal, build smart, and innovate for change while our national theme is ‘Sustainable infrastructure and access to public services for gender equality and the empowerment of women’. The international theme is in tandem with the vision of the new dispensation which emphasises on economic recovery and making Zimbabwe a middle income country by 2030,” she said
Highlighting government’s strides toward ensuring that women and girls are adequately empowered, Minister Nyoni said, “My Ministry has put in place some programmes to ensure that women effectively participate in the following sectors: agriculture, mining, tourism, trade and manufacturing. These are being implemented under a Broad Based Women Economic Empowerment Framework which calls for the participation of women in key economic sectors,” she said.
Minister Nyoni added that building a gender-balanced nation is key in the development of our nation, while highlighting that the celebration of women’s achievements are to be held on 8 March 2019.
“On the 8th of March Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day. On this day we celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women, their courage and significant determination in contributing to the country’s wellbeing. It is also a day to reflect on the progress made in the advancement of women’s issues,” she said.
The celebrations will be held in Midlands Province, Gokwe South District at Nemangwe Cotton Marketing Board (CMB).
