THE government- led women empowerment initiatives are bearing fruit with women venturing into key sectors, including manufacturing, construction and tourism industries.
In Kariba, a town famed for its picturesque lakefront and vibrant tourism appeal, women are breaking through traditional barriers and emerging as notable figures in the small and medium enterprise (SME) space.
One such trailblazer is Mrs Chikomborero Jaiwa, a local entrepreneur who has established herself within the competitive tourism industry.
“When I started a few years ago, many people looked at me and thought I would not survive. Tourism here has long been dominated by large corporations, mostly white-owned. As a black woman and a former teacher, I am redefining the odds, I have now secured my stake in this sector despite widespread scepticism.”
Her story resonates with that of Mrs Mationesa Kazangarare, who runs a medium-scale water bottling plant, capitalising on Kariba’s climate and natural resources.
“Kariba experiences high temperatures throughout the year. I realised we were consuming bottled water transported all the way from Manicaland,” she said.
“So I identified the gap and established this plant. I wanted to prove that you don’t have to be based in a major city to operate a professional business. Kariba’s water is clean and abundant, why should we not bottle it here, create employment here, and uplift our community?”
The government has commended such entrepreneurial efforts, viewing them as critical to local development and national economic empowerment goals.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa recently visited Kariba and praised the thriving women-led businesses.
“I have been touring SMEs in Kariba and I am proud to witness women-led enterprises flourishing. My Ministry remains committed to facilitating a conducive business environment, affordable loan access through Smedco, and technical training. We are now in the digital era, let us leverage ICT and social media platforms for marketing to expand beyond Kariba.”
Echoing these sentiments, the Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Marian Chombo underscored the importance of sustainable resource use and infrastructure support.
“Fishing remains the mainstay of Kariba’s economy. With rising dam levels, we are optimistic about the outlook for local businesses. We continue to advocate for sustainable harvesting methods and capital support for the acquisition of new fishing rigs. As a province, we are committed to engaging with these promising enterprises to shape growth-focused strategies,” she said.
From the tranquil waters of Lake Kariba to the bustling local markets, women entrepreneurs are not only building businesses, they are rewriting narratives, symbolising the power of opportunity aligned with determination.
