Story by John Nhandara
GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment, describing greater female participation in manufacturing as critical to industrial growth and the achievement of national development goals.
The commitment was underscored during an engagement on women in manufacturing held in Harare on Tuesday, where policymakers, business leaders and development partners discussed strategies to scale up women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and integrate them into mainstream value chains.
Deputy Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Honourable Kiven Mutimbanyoka said sustainable industrialisation could not be achieved without the meaningful inclusion of women.
“We are coming up with tailored financing models that intentionally reserve opportunities for women-led businesses,” she said.
Officials noted that expanding women’s participation across the manufacturing value chain is both an economic and developmental imperative, with the potential to enhance industrial competitiveness and drive sustainable growth.
A representative from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said the initiative aligns with the country’s industrialisation agenda under the National Development Strategy Two (NDS2).
“This juncture is important in the country’s journey, anchored on NDS2, which places great emphasis on the industrialisation of the country’s economy. We are activating a powerful vehicle that will uplift our industrial base,” said the ministry’s director, Mr Clifford Nhema.
Participants at the meeting highlighted both the opportunities and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the sector, while calling for greater support to enable female-owned enterprises to grow and access larger markets.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Ding Zhou said Beijing was prepared to deepen cooperation with Zimbabwe to create more opportunities for women in business and manufacturing.
“Women’s empowerment is not just a policy goal, but a global norm that drives sustainable development. The vision to empower women in the manufacturing sector is commendable. It is a pivotal moment as Zimbabwe marches towards Vision 2030,” he said.
Mr Zhou added that China would pursue twinning arrangements aimed at helping Zimbabwean products manufactured by women gain access to Chinese markets.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the manufacturing sector currently contributes more than 14 percent to Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product, with authorities viewing increased participation by women as a key driver of future industrial expansion.
