By Byron Mutingwende
All roads are leading to Masvingo for the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) celebrations in Zimbabwe’s oldest city.
WED is a global initiative with a mission to celebrate, support and empower women entrepreneurship worldwide. It was initiated in 2014 by the WED Worldwide Movement which is headquartered in New York in the United States of America.
“WED is celebrated annually, on the 19th of November, the world’s largest celebration of women innovators and job creators launching startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. WED appoints a Global Team of Country Ambassadors among the world’s leading women entrepreneurs and innovators facilitating change by empowering their communities and countries hroughout the world,” said Zimbabwe’s WED country ambassador for 2016, Angeline Mikiri.
Mikiri is the Founder and Director of Shekinah Media and also the Publisher of Great Zimbabwe Times Magazine. The Zimbabwe WED event is going to be held in the historic town of Masvingo on the 25th of November 2016.
The country ambassadors worldwide set up an event with other women to celebrate, support and empower women entrepreneurship by the visibility and success of women-owned or women-led organisations..
In Masvingo, a social entrepreneur, Marah Hativagone, will talk about “inspiring women and girls to take a lead in innovation.”
Hativagone is a dynamic businesswoman and became the first black woman president of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce in 2006 after having served as the deputy for two years and the Chairperson of Harare Chamber of Commerce.
The social entrepreneur founded the Value Addition Project in Zimbabwe in 2008as a way of giving back to society. The Trsust also imparts business skills to marginalized women and youths as well as underprivileged and orphaned youths.
Mikiri called on people from all walks of life to attend the Masvingo celebrations since WED seeks to empower the 4 billion women across the globe to be catalysts of change, and uplift the 250 million girls living in poverty globally.
“In addition to our mission of empowerment, we are committed to gathering a think tank of inspiring women leaders who can amplify our message of expanding businesses with social-good initiatives in communities around the world.”
The world needs a Women’s Entrepreneurship Day for various reasons. Women perform 66% of the world’s work, yet they earn 10% of the world’s income. At the same time, they account for 85% of consumer purchases and control $20 trillion in worldwide spending.
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is generating a movement that carries throughout the year in support of women in business globally. WED ignites women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities worldwide. The flagship UN event is live-streamed and celebrated in 144 countries and 110 universities and colleges celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship Day internationally reaching over 1.4 million people.
WED is a once in a lifetime opportunity to interact with some of the most distinguished entrepreneurs and rub shoulders with its influential audience, including Change Makers, Social Entrepreneurs, Philanthropists, Executives, Heads of international organizations, leaders, CEOs and celebrities.
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is a great occasion to make life-changing connections, participate in the largest celebration for women in business, learn from the greatest, brightest and most kind-hearted minds.
The celebrations are open to anyone who loves to support and celebrate extraordinary women leaders and establish a global support network: Whether one just graduated from college or has a passion for making a difference in the world.
Natalie Jabangwe Morris, the Manager (Executive Head Ecocash) who is also the WEDZIM ambassador for 2015 will set the tone and give participants the direction on the day.
As the WEDZIM UN ambassador she has endorsed me. I am proud to be part of this. Yes its happening in the City of Greatness, 25th Nov is the day. Why miss this day when you can attend.
A panel of experienced speakers will grace the occasion. This include from Malawi, Ursula Banda – Stylist and Interior Décor Entrepreneur; from Tanzania, Catherine Rose Barretto, the Founder of KinuTechnology Hub; from Durban in South Africa, Honey Mamabolo the CEO of Thebe Unico; from Nigeria, Titi Okefere a Publisher andInterior Designer; from Namibia – Selma Shimutwikeni – Founder of Rich Africa Consultancy and from Zimbabwe – Angeline Mikiri , the Founder of Shekinah Media.
“We are pleased to announce that Women Entrepreneurship Day Zimbabwe has partnered with Ecocash Brand a subsidiary of Econet wireless, City of Masvingo,Masvingo Teachers College, Masvingo Polytechnic,Zimbabwe Open University, Zifm stereo to host this years WED Zimbabwe,” Mikiri said.