Story by Gay Matambo
CHIREDZI-GOVERNMENT-backed women empowerment initiatives in agriculture are bearing tangible results in Chiredzi, where women are building thriving businesses that are transforming their communities and setting sights on export markets.
One shining example is Mrs Sithembinkosi Bhila, a poultry farmer whose layer chicken production business has grown significantly since its humble beginnings in 2012.
From starting with just 100 chicks, Mrs Bhila now operates a highly profitable enterprise with 10 000 hens producing 320 crates of eggs daily.
Her operation supplies major retail outlets across Chiredzi, as well as Checheche, Chivi, and Birchnough.
“I started in 2012 with just 100 chicks and as you can see this is 2025 and my business has grown this big. I supply a number of big shops in Chiredzi every day because the hens produce 320 crates of eggs daily. I also supply as far Birchnough. We are targeting the export market now,”Mrs Bhila said.
Her business generates approximately US$40 000 per month and employs 20 people.
She attributes her success to financial assistance and training received through government programmes aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs under the Vision 2030 development agenda.
“It was not going to be easy without the financial support I got from government. I encourage women to go for training before starting any project, as this improves your chances of success. Even banks are more willing to invest. I also offer training to other women interested in layer chicken production,” she added.
With proceeds from her poultry business, Mrs Bhila has since diversified into cattle fattening and goat rearing, further contributing to rural development and food security in the region.
Employees at the facility expressed appreciation for the employment opportunities, citing positive transformations in their lives.
“We are happy to finally be employed. Life was tough before this,” a worker said.
“We are not only earning a living, we are also learning how to run agricultural projects. In future, I will apply this knowledge when I go back to my rural home,” another employee added.
“I can now send my children to school, I have built a house and bought livestock from my earnings,” an employee said.
Mrs Bhila’s success story is one among many that reflect the impact of the government’s women-focused development programmes, such as the Women’s Empowerment Fund and the Women’s Bank.
These initiatives aim to remove longstanding barriers to female economic participation, including limited access to finance, business training, and gender-based challenges.
As women like Mrs Bhila continue to rise in agriculture and agribusiness, their stories are helping to redefine Zimbabwe’s rural economy one empowered woman at a time.
