The Sunday News
Sharon Chimenya, Masvingo Correspondent
MORE than 200 women are set to get fishing licences to operate at Tugwi Mukosi Dam and other dams in Masvingo Province as part of empowering them.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Ezra Chadzamira told Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo during a tour of the Roger Howman Training Centre in Mucheke, Masvingo last week that the province has opened up 207 fishing licensing to empower women.
He said the participation of women and marginalised communities in national development was a rallying development effective in mobilisation and increased productivity in line with the National Development Strategy 1 in pursuit of a prosperous and upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“I want to acknowledge and appreciate financial inclusion programmes for women and communities being implemented by the New Dispensation through the Women Development Fund, Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank, OFID and Empower Bank which have strengthened youth and women participation in growing our GDP. We have also opened up opportunities to 207 women co-operatives through the fishing licences in Tugwi Mukosi Dam and other dams in the province,” he said.
Cde Chadzamira said one of the major challenges that the province was facing was the lack of skills of turning ideas into services.
“Masvingo has a history of pioneering early literacy in the country and over the years have branded itself among the leading provinces with communities that value education and pursue continuous education and professional development. Our major challenge has been lack of skills that turn ideas into goods and services that address the needs and problems of our communities,” said Cde Chadzamira.
He said the completion of the construction of the female dormitory at the Roger Howman Training Centre will help in revenue generation for the centre, improve accommodation for trainees, entrepreneurship skills development.
Dr Gumbo said the construction of the female dormitory was a testimony that Government was committed to empowering women.
“The progress made in the construction of the female dormitory here at Roger Howman Training Centre is testimony that Government is committed to empowering women to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction in the country. It is regrettable that although construction of the project started way back in 1999, progress has been impeded by financial constraints. In order to address these challenges, Government has undertaken to ensure the completion of delayed and unfinished projects,” he said.
