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Ruth Butaumocho
African Agenda

Empowerment is defined as the freedom of choice and action.

For most people who are often greatly disadvantaged, particularly women and girls, their freedom becomes very limited.

Because they are also considered as minors, women sometimes have to depend on their husbands or male relatives to assist them in making robust and life changing decisions.

However, the advent of information communication technologies has opened an avalanche of opportunities for women, across the globe.

With a click of button, women and girls are now able to explore and access, an array of opportunities, a feat that was not possible before technology and innovation became the new world communication order.

Globally, the increasing number and use of mobile phones and internet connectivity have facilitated access to health information, education, business opportunities and exposure.

This probably explains why this year’s International Women’s Day theme is on technology and innovation, in acknowledgment of the role ICT has played in revolutionising the lives of ordinary women.

This year’s theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.

It also resonates with the Concord Young Women in Business Global mandate Concord YWIB), a Harare based non-governmental organisation that aims to empower women through information communication technology.

Since its formation a few years ago, Concord YWIB has so far offered free ICT training to more than 10 000 women to bridge the gap between women and their male counterparts.

The organisation is currently conducting several ICT trainings programmes across the country to capacitate young women and the disabled, while mapping their economic trajectory after years of sitting on the fence, while men dominated the circle.

The noble initiative is in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, which has seen Concord YWIB moving around Zimbabwe training people as part of its efforts to empower women through technology.

Speaking during one of its many training programmes and after completion of ICT training for young women at Mabvuku Hall in Harare recently, Concord YWIB founder Ms Alphia Musavengana said economic empowerment of women was crucial to ensure that women are actively involved in the development of Zimbabwe.

“We are supporting President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.

“We feel women need to connect each other to create a value chain, understand the market. This can be achieved if they are knowledgeable of what is happening globally through ICTs programmes,” she said.

The training, Ms Musavengana said was an ongoing programme, which will empower thousands of women and girls across Zimbabwe.

Concord YWIB trainings have so far been conducted in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Midlands and Harare from the time it was formed.

“By the end of this month, we will cover all the remaining provinces. The graduation ceremony will be held in Bulawayo on the 6th of April next month. All the participants will receive their certificates in Bulawayo. The initiative is meant to empower women with modern technology,” echoed Ms Musavengana.

Running under the theme ‘Women’s Inclusion and Participation in Achieving Vision 2030’, Concord YWIB hosted its first programme of the year in Mashonaland West recently.

During the completion of training in Harare last week a number of women expressed their long held aspirations to contribute meaningfully to the development of Zimbabwe, through partaking in various economic projects through ICT.

Concord Young women in Business Harare province

One of the participants Miss Melan Chekerai hailed the training programme saying Zimbabwean women constitute 52 percent of the country’s population, yet they continue to be economic minnows, spending the large part of their lives doing unpaid work.

“Women are hard workers and yet they hardly ever get good ICT training skills and a second eye in economic empowerment issues,” said Miss Chekerai.

Another participant Ms Ruvarashe Kadoka expressed gratitude for the ICT programme initiative.

“I am humbled to at least learn how to use a computer for free.

“This is an important programme especially for women,”

Women, she said should be able to be self-reliance.

We should do our business through the use of computers, connecting with our clients and suppliers outside the country.

Speaking through an interpreter, a deaf woman, Miss Lindsey Nyakumbwa said the ICT programme has been game changer in her life.

“I am happy because President Mnangagwa has come up with programmes targeting to empower the under privileged. We have been empowered as young women,” she said.

Surrounded by swathes of productive land, vast waters where fisheries are thriving and an abundance of tourism opportunities, young women expressed their interest to run and be part of these thriving business opportunities.

Some of the young women would be trained to make foam bath, drill boreholes, tailoring and as make-up artists.

As African member countries strengthen their information communication they should ensure that the majority of women have access to the internet and other digital platforms so that they can actively participate in social, political and economic issues.

Full participation in the digital world is important not only for individual rights and empowerment, but also as a driver of economic growth and prosperity, an initiative that Concord YWIB has mastered very well.

By closing the digital divide and ensure the inclusion of women, will bolster economic growth, not only in Zimbabwe, but beyond the borders, a development that invigorate regional economic activities.

Economies that include women are stronger, and inclusive digital development will be critical as countries look to bounce back from the Covid-19 crisis.

The African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy is a critical document that should implemented in totality to ensure that digitalisation does not remain a mirage, but becomes a critical tool in economic development of every African citizen.

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