Government Efforts to Empower Women and Youths Show Positive Impact, Says President Mnangagwa
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has highlighted progress in empowering women and youths through government initiatives, coinciding with Zimbabwe’s 2024 International Women’s Day commemorations under the theme 'Give To Gain'.
Government Efforts to Empower Women and Youths Show Positive Impact, Says President Mnangagwa
Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has affirmed that government initiatives aimed at empowering women and youths, alongside efforts to domesticate mineral value chains, are producing encouraging results. Speaking on the eve of International Women’s Day 2024 during the burial of national hero Brigadier-General (Retired) Jonathan Willie Hungwe, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to inclusive development and industrialisation under the Second Republic.
Zimbabwe’s 2024 International Women’s Day celebrations are themed "Give To Gain," reflecting a national call for collective action to advance gender equality and economic participation. The government has taken deliberate steps to increase women’s representation in leadership by reserving seats for women in both Parliament and local authorities, aiming to achieve gender parity in decision-making processes.
Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Monica Mutsvangwa outlined ongoing reforms to strengthen women’s economic empowerment. Her ministry is reviewing the National Broad-Based Women’s Economic Empowerment Framework to dismantle cultural barriers that hinder women’s access to resources and opportunities. This review aligns with the recently launched National Gender Policy, which seeks to ensure women’s voices are not only heard but actively influence policy and governance.
Minister Mutsvangwa also highlighted practical measures to support women’s livelihoods, including the establishment of one-stop centres and mobile units that offer integrated services. Thousands of women have been equipped with skills relevant to high-demand sectors, enabling them to create sustainable businesses and contribute to national development from the grassroots level.
Financial inclusion remains a key focus, with expanded access to funding through institutions such as the Women’s Development Fund, the Zimbabwe Community Development Fund, the Women’s Microfinance Bank, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO). Since 2018, the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank has disbursed loans to over 49,000 women and small-scale entrepreneurs across the country. However, a 2024 survey revealed that about 60 percent of women consulted were unaware of the bank’s existence or its products, indicating ongoing challenges in outreach and visibility.
Minister Mutsvangwa emphasized the importance of formalising informal sector operations to enhance protection and economic opportunities for women. She called on women and girls to believe in their potential and support one another, while urging men and boys to become allies in the pursuit of gender equality. "This is not a women’s fight; it is a human fight," she said, underscoring the need for collective effort to build a Zimbabwe where women and girls can thrive free from violence and fully realise their potential.
These developments reflect Zimbabwe’s broader commitment to social and economic transformation, with government policies and programmes designed to empower historically marginalised groups. As the country marks International Women’s Day, the message from leadership is clear: empowering women and youths is central to building a modern, industrialised Zimbabwe.
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