New association for women entrepreneurs launched in Bulawayo

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO

A new association  for women entrepreneurs meant to spur businesses owned by women in the country has been launched in Bulawayo, Business Times can report.

Speaking at the launch  of the association called Women in Production in Bulawayo on Tuesday this week, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small to Medium Enterprise Development Affairs, Sithembiso Nyoni  said government will help the association to spread its wings across the country.

She said it was critical for women to take part in the development of the economy.

“We want to launch 2022 with a bang especially on the women. We want to launch it with the President’s vision for 2030 where he said no one must be left behind and everybody must be middle income.

“You don’t become middle income if you are not in business, and you don’t grow an economy if you produce nothing so we are starting with women and other Small to Medium Enterprise will follow to produce,” Nyoni said.

Nyoni said women in business across the country will have a women’s indaba next month.

“So that this country has a productive base for its own products. We are launching women in production throughout the country. In the end maybe in the beginning of March or end of February we are going to have a women in production indaba.

“Which means all of you must now come together nationally and show the president that you are there. We will invite ambassadors to see what the women are doing so that they start ordering from you. We have got three or more platforms that we want you to hook up with the first one is Dubai 2020 where the director  for Women Affairs and Gender, Julia Mapungwana is organising to take us to Dubai,” she said.

Nyoni said women should also take advantage of a large market brought about by the African Continental Free Trade Area and should “occupy that space with a bang” establishing businesses across the continent.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Bulawayo Province, Judith Ncube, said it was important for women to organise themselves.

“Women in Bulawayo have organised themselves into clubs and associations, this help women to have clear identity,” Ncube said in a speech read on her behalf by Bulawayo Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Paul Nyoni.