The Sunday News
Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
WITH the Women’s Month coming to an end today, Bubi District in Matabeleland North Province successfully hosted a special event last week dedicated to celebrating rural women for their efforts in the push for development while allowing them space to share their challenges.
This year’s Women’s Day commemorations were running under the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate progress”, which speaks to the need to advance women’s empowerment across all spaces.
The event which was held at Siphikeni Secondary School was marked by tree planting, exhibitions and a cooking competition.
The event focused on various programmes the women in the district have been undertaking, highlighting their contributions and the struggles they face while making ends meet.
Women were given an opportunity to display the work of their hands which included weaved art in the form of basketry.
Speaking during the event, Bubi Ward 14 Councillor, Cookie Moyo applauded the work that the women displayed and encouraged them to work extra hard.
“It is good to see women working hard and making something out of nothing. Women ought to be independent, we no longer live in times where women depended fully on men. This time, women are occupying space and are making sure that their hard work pays,” she said.
Clr Moyo pleaded with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises to invest more in women so that the challenges they face were dealt with.
“Many local authorities with women are progressing better than those dominated by men. We hope that the ministry invests more in women and resonates with this year’s Women’s Day theme that states that investing in women, accelerates progress,” she said.
One of the women who took part in the exhibition, Mrs Simelani Dube expressed gratitude to the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa for giving women a chance to participate in the achievement of the country’s economic goals as espoused by Vision 2030.
