Umceco Empire celebrates Women’s Month through empowerment

23 Aug, 2020 - 00:08 0 Views
Umceco Empire celebrates Women’s Month through empowerment Sukoluhle Ncube

The Sunday News

Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Correspondent
A savings and investment group called Umceco Empire which has over 400 members drawn from countries dotted around the globe has earmarked to stay upbeat amid the pandemic and facilitate development projects for communities worldwide.

The organisation, a brainchild of Ms Sukoluhle Ncube who was born and bred in Bulawayo and is now based in South Africa is made up of women mostly who are of Zimbabwean origin and South African origin.

The members are based in Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America, among other countries.
In a wide ranging interview, Ms Ncube said amid the Covid-19 pandemic and in celebration of the Women’s Month they have had to utilise the online virtual place to ensure growth of their projects is not stalled.

The women organisation is involved in projects among them mobilising food aid for the vulnerable due to Covid-19, farming initiatives, acquiring of solar panels for increased electrification.

“I was born 37 years ago in Bulawayo at Pelandaba Clinic and I was raised by my mother and my grandparents, between Nketa and Njube. I had the experience of a full African bringing in a home full of siblings and cousins. I was never the academic child at school and home and when I did not do well in school, I had to work and make ends meet.

“Working with people and bringing people together has always been my passion. I remember just after high school, I was involved in a youth empowerment programme YEPHRI that was funded by Unicef. I was responsible for up-and-coming artistes who wanted to showcase their talents. This ignited in me a fire that has been burning, to work with people.

“Fast forward some years later, I came to South Africa in search of greener pastures, the ultimate dream of most young people at that time back home. Between finding a job to afford a decent life, I started organising functions with ladies in Johannesburg. It was mostly get togethers, parties and trips for women to meet and get to know each other. It has never been a hustle having to put together many people for some cause for me,” she said.

Ms Ncube said having seen the need to enhance growth in communities she decided to start a stokvel (investment group) which has grown to a membership of over 400.

“My ability to work with people was identified by uSis Dorothy Ngwenya founder of Umceco Wamakhosikazi akoNtuthu who later on became my mentor in this whole process. We met through Facebook and connected. Those times I was also a member of the popular Makhox Women’s League on Facebook, a platform where most women from Zimbabwe get to talk, help each other and advice each other.

“From joining uSis Dorothy,I started a stokvel with about 11 women of Zimbabwean origin but based across the globe. It was a great success. Three years later the stokvel has grown to about 400 people which includes even men. The stokvel is diversified with some groups of people helping each other with money stokvel, groceries, some groups for small courses, some for helping each other buy cars and others for buying stands. The response from people was overwhelming and many people were joining in.

“When the Covid-19 disaster hit, I was involved in a cause that was headed by Nomzamo Dwili, that was collecting groceries and helping with food parcels to our fellow Zimbabweans in the Johannesburg area.

As we started Women’s month, we have added more than a hundred women across the globe for different projects that include farming, solar panels, building and drivers licences for women who don’t have.

“As women, we believe in empowering each other and in a way ‘fixing each other’s crowns’ thus we want to prove to the whole world that it is possible for women to uplift each other. I have worked with and been inspired by a number of women like Sithule Tshuma (Qoki ZiNdlovukazi), Sisa Senkosi (Artiste), Precious Gondwe (Botswana Pan African) Nobuhle Virgie (based in South Africa), Nobuhle Mguni (Bring Back Byo), Mpho Masushi (The Glow), Sithule Mguni (UK), Praise Uzuna (South Africa) and Sizalobuhle Gegabe (South Africa), among others,” she said.

She added that plans were underway to furnish hospitals in Bulawayo. – @mthabisi_mthire

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