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The launch of the inaugural Women Empowerment Summit and Expo yesterday which was running under the theme, “Revitalising Economic Growth through Women Empowerment”, highlights the strategic role that women play in sustainable economic growth and development, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Hon Oppah Muchinguri, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, the President said the Summit provided delegates with an opportunity to engage in a policy dialogue on issues that impede women’s participation in all economic spheres and to come up with recommendations that promote inclusive development. It was a platform for the creation of business partnerships and the production of more goods and services.
“This resonates with my Government’s thrust of fostering inclusive development which leaves no one and no place behind as we march towards making Zimbabwe a Prosperous and Empowered Upper-Middle Income Society by 2030. I would like to welcome all international delegates who are attending this Summit, and hope that you travelled well and are enjoying your stay in our beloved country, Zimbabwe,” President Mnangagwa said.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the National Consultative Forum (NECF) organised the event.
“The empowerment of women is a prerequisite for sustainable development and pro-poor poverty reduction. It is central to the attainment of gender and social equality, which are all necessary for ensuring vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities. The economic empowerment of women promotes economic growth, contributes to reducing income inequality, and boosts economic diversification.
“In this regard, the Second Republic is committed to ensuring that women participate equally and have access to and control over capital and productive resources. This includes the implementation of policies and programmes that ensure access to decent work and increase their voice, agency and meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels. Empowering women in the economy and closing gender gaps in the world of work is key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 5,” the President added.
The government is taking concrete steps to economically empower women. The Women Development Fund provides loans to groups of women without collateral security. On the other hand, the Women Microfinance Bank provides tailor-made and affordable financial resources to women. These initiatives have enabled the creation as well as sustenance of jobs, which has transformed the livelihoods of many women.
Moreso, the Government, through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, has launched the Financial Inclusion Strategy II with a view of improving access to credit by disadvantaged entrepreneurs, including women. Through this Strategy, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has established a collateral registry for movable assets in order to expand the range of qualifying collateral accepted by lenders as part of broader reforms to improve access to finance and promote financial inclusion.
Section 17 of the Constitution calls upon the Government to ensure full gender balance and to take measures to promote the full participation of women in all spheres on the basis of equality with men. This includes 50/50 representation in all institutions, agencies of Government, commissions and other elective bodies at all levels. Women’s access to resources, including land, is also guaranteed on the basis of equality.
Guided by the National Gender Policy and the Broad-Based Women Empowerment Framework, my Government is mainstreaming women in economic sectors such as mining, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
In furthering the Women’s Empowerment agenda, the Government is implementing various programmes for women’s empowerment, which include financial inclusion, access to markets, and capacity building.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cooperation is also capacitating Micro Small and Medium Enterprises throughout the country in sectors that include manufacturing, agriculture and retail, among others, for which about 40% of the beneficiaries are women-owned enterprises.
With regards to infrastructure provision, the Government, in partnership with Developmental Partners, is working on establishing safe markets, which are Gender Based Violence free trading facilities for women traders. The concept takes into account the practical gender needs of women entrepreneurs such as the need for proper sanitary facilities, storage rooms, protection from hard weather conditions, a children’s play centre and a crèche. A safe market has already been established in Epworth and in 2023 five more Safe Markets will be constructed.
Acknowledging the critical role that women play in the development of this nation, the Government has an unwavering commitment towards promoting Gender and Women Empowerment and is a party to International and Regional instruments for gender equality and women empowerment.
These include the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa; the AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
The President is greatly disturbed by the rising incidences of Gender Based Violence, including child marriages and adolescent pregnancies.
“Recent incidences of adolescent pregnancies in Tsholotsho and Bindura are worrisome as this is destroying the social fabric and future of our children and our country. No society can be effectively empowered under such an environment. I, therefore, want to warn such perpetrators that stern measures will be taken to curb this menace,” President Mnangagwa said.