Women in manufacturing industry get SMEDCO backing

CLOUDINE MATOLA

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) has pledged to accelerate the industrialisation of women-owned enterprises through enhanced support for mechanisation, targeted financing, skills development and strategic partnerships aimed at boosting productivity and competitiveness.

Speaking at the launch of Zimbabwe Women in Manufacturing this week, SMEDCO chief executive officer Obert Ngwenya said the initiative must deliver measurable outcomes that strengthen the participation of women in the country’s manufacturing sector.

He said SMEDCO was committed to investing in women’s industrial potential by supporting mechanisation, dismantling structural barriers to growth and creating enabling ecosystems that foster innovation and sustainable business expansion.

“The launch of Zimbabwe Women in Manufacturing must translate into tangible results. As SMEDCO, we are committed to investing sufficiently in women’s industrial potential, supporting mechanisation, removing structural barriers to growth and building the necessary ecosystems. We are ready to partner, innovate and deliver impact,” Ngwenya said.

He described women’s empowerment through manufacturing, industrialisation and mechanisation as an economic necessity rather than merely a developmental objective.

“Empowering women through manufacturing, industrialisation and mechanisation is not just a developmental goal; it is an economic imperative. If we get this right, we strengthen our industries, create jobs, grow our economy and build resilient communities. Let us work together to ensure that Zimbabwe’s industrial future is inclusive, productive and powered by our hardworking women,” he said.

Ngwenya noted that mechanisation remains a critical driver of transformation for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), enabling businesses to move from labour-intensive production methods to efficient, large-scale and standardised manufacturing systems capable of competing in export markets.

He said many women entrepreneurs continue to face significant challenges in accessing machinery and equipment, limiting their ability to increase output, improve product quality and meet market demand.

“Mechanisation is not just about machines; it is about transformation. It allows enterprises to move from manual processing to efficient production systems, from low output to high-volume production, and from inconsistent quality to standardised, market-ready products,” Ngwenya said.

He added that access to modern equipment would enable women-led enterprises to increase production capacity, lower operating costs, reduce physical labour demands and expand into new domestic and international markets.

To address these challenges, SMEDCO is rolling out programmes aimed at supporting the adoption of mechanisation across women-owned MSMEs. These include financing for machinery and equipment acquisition, access to shared production facilities, development of industrial workspaces designed for mechanised production and specialised entrepreneurial training.

“Our role as SMEDCO is to actively support MSMEs in adopting mechanisation through financing for machinery and equipment, facilitating access to shared production facilities, supporting industrial workspaces designed for mechanised production and training entrepreneurs. Together, we can democratise access to machinery and ensure that women are not left behind in the industrial revolution,” he said.

Ngwenya said the alignment between SMEDCO and Zimbabwe Women in Manufacturing presents a significant opportunity to accelerate industrial growth among women entrepreneurs.

He outlined several areas of collaboration, including the development of dedicated financing products tailored for women in manufacturing, establishment of mechanisation hubs and shared production facilities, provision of technical and vocational training, and strengthening market access through value-chain integration.

“We are committed to working together to ensure success through targeted financing, mechanisation hubs, skills development and technical training, as well as market access and value-chain integration. We want to ensure women manufacturers are connected to larger corporations and broader markets, enabling them to scale and compete effectively,” Ngwenya said.