OWN CORRESPONDENT
MASVINGO-On the 19th and 20th of March, stakeholders came together in Masvingo to celebrate International Women’s Day through an Investor Readiness, Project Management, Market Access, and Value Addition Training Program targeting women entrepreneurs.
The event was hosted by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) in partnership with Masvingo Polytechnic and Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe, reaffirming a shared commitment to empowering women and transforming communities through entrepreneurship.
Masvingo Polytechnic facilitated the training through its:
* Department of Entrepreneurship and Business Studies
* Department of Food Science
Key Training Areas Covered:
* Investor Readiness
* Value Addition
* Project Management
* Financial Planning and Cash Flow Management
* Financial Inclusion
* Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business
Stakeholder Participation and Contributions:
* Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe: Encouraged women entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses in order to become eligible suppliers, emphasizing registration, compliance, and structured operations to access corporate value chains.
* Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development: Presented on the importance of business formalization and registration as a pathway to accessing funding, growth opportunities, and participation in the formal economy.
* TN Cybertech: Delivered a presentation on financial inclusion, equipping participants with knowledge on accessing financial services and leveraging digital tools for business growth.
* City of Masvingo: Made a presentation focusing on local economic development opportunities and emphasized the importance of compliance, registration, and alignment with public procurement requirements to enable women entrepreneurs to participate effectively in supply opportunities.
* Exhibitors and Industry Players: Included Econet Wireless and Eben Hardware, who showcased their services and solutions, engaging participants on connectivity, digital services, and business support opportunities.
* Women Entrepreneurs Exhibitors: Women in crafts and handiwork, as well as women in agriculture, exhibited their products, showcasing value addition, creativity, and the diversity of women-led enterprises.
Participants also received guidance on:
* Supplier registration processes
* Compliance requirements for corporate and public procurement systems
Strategic Milestone:
A key highlight of the program was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Masvingo Polytechnic and WEDO, which will:
* Strengthen collaboration in entrepreneurship training
* Expand capacity-building programs for women
* Support innovation and value addition initiatives
* Improve access to markets, funding, and procurement opportunities
Keynote Address Summary:
The Guest of Honour, Mrs. Madekwana, Deputy Director in the Office of the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of advancing financial inclusion for women, with deliberate efforts to reach those in rural and remote communities, noting that this is essential in unlocking opportunity.
She highlighted that the empowerment of women is the foundation of a just, equitable, and thriving society, stressing that women should not be seen as passive beneficiaries but as active leaders and agents of change across all sectors—including science, governance, innovation, technology, social justice, and economic transformation.
Aligning with the International Women’s Day theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls,” she outlined key priorities: advancing women’s leadership and representation in decision-making spaces, strengthening their participation in governance and policy processes, and promoting women’s economic empowerment through improved access to capital, ownership, and opportunities across value chains.
She further emphasized the need to dismantle systemic barriers that limit women’s participation in wealth creation, while fostering environments that support innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Outcomes:
A total of 74 women entrepreneurs participated in the training and successfully received certificates upon completion, recognizing their commitment and enhanced capacity in business management, financial literacy, and market readiness.
The program marked a significant step forward in strengthening women’s economic empowerment, fostering partnerships, and building inclusive pathways for women to participate meaningfully in enterprise development and national growth.
The event was coordinated by Shekinah Media.
