Story by Thubelihle Mhodi
BULAWAYO-WOMEN in business are pushing for enhanced entrepreneurship and international marketing for economic growth.
In a powerful show of unity and ambition, women from diverse sectors gathered in Bulawayo this Thursday for a Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Federation of Women in Business engagement.
The meeting sought to foster business growth, self-sustenance, and opportunities for regional and global expansion.
The forum provided a platform for women to network, share experiences, and explore pathways towards building sustainable enterprises with potential for export.
“Being part of this event is inspiring, having women telling their stories, and I have learnt that I can be anything I want to be, and with my small business, I can build something big,” a businesswoman said.
“It is key to have systems in place so that the business can run even if you are not in attendance. It is a blessing to be here today because of the amount of wealth here, meeting people from different areas of experience, and age groups to grow,” a participant said.
“The importance of systems to be able to do things remotely is an eye-opener for us as businesswomen. We have takeaways to challenge ourselves to get out of our comfort zones and do big things,” another businesswoman added.
Chairperson of the COMESA Federation of Women in Business, Edna Makurazhizha, emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship for women’s economic independence and regional trade integration.
“We are encouraging women to be able to create viable start-up Businesses, think export markets, so we’re here today to encourage women of Bulawayo to consider exporting their products. And we believe women have been equipped to expand their businesses for self-sustainability and economic growth,” she said.
Since its establishment in 2017, the COMESA Federation of Women in Business has expanded across 21 member states, empowering women to grow viable enterprises and contribute to regional economic development.
From small start-ups to scalable ventures, the message is clear, women are not just building businesses, they are building futures.
