Story by Tamuka Charakupa
More than one thousand young women have been trained in various business disciplines in Manicaland province, with the government reiterating its commitment to empowering the citizenry for the transformation of livelihoods.
At least 1300 young women and girls drawn from the province were presented with business certificates after undergoing training conducted by a local non-governmental organisation, Young Women for Business.
“As young girls, we want to thank the government for sourcing partners who are empowering us with knowledge on how to run our own businesses using locally available resources,” a beneficiary told the ZBC News.
“This is a life-changing training because we are being taught to be self-sufficient regardless of whether we are educated or not,” another said.
Added another, “We were trained on piggery, poultry, ICTs among other skills so that we stop the dependence habit and work for ourselves.”
Young Women in Business founder, Miss Apphia Nyasha Musavengana and Chipinge District Head in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mrs Ivy Chitambo underscored the importance of the programme in empowering young women with life skills.
“As Young Women in Business, we have taken heed of the call by the President that we should all join hands towards the attainment of Vision 2030. Part of these efforts include training and capacitation of young women and here in Manicaland, we have trained over one thousand three hundred women in various disciplines,” noted Miss Musavengana.
Mrs Chitambo said, “This is a positive development for Chipinge district because once we have empowered women, we would have cut down on issues like early pregnancies, drug and substance abuse and prostitution so we are grateful for this initiative.”
The Second Republic is on a drive to promote women’s empowerment, with the Zimbabwe Women’s Micro-Finance Bank being established to provide access to capital.
