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Runesu Gwidi Masvingo Correspondent
Over 5 000 women in Masvingo Province have opened savings accounts with the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB ) as the bank’s marketing drive continues to gain traction in the city.

The financial institution was established by Government to assist women with money to start businesses.

The bank’ provincial development officer Mr Joseph Mupinga said they had laid a solid foundation for the realisation of Government’s vision to transform the country into an upper-middle income economy by 2030.

He attributed the spike in their clients to the fact that they do not attach stringent conditions to their loans.

“You will note that the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development has since launched several projects to empower women in Masvingo,” said Mr Mupinga.

“Government is currently working on modalities to escalate participation of women in all mainstream economic activities.

“The long-standing financial exclusion of women, especially those in rural settings, will be a thing of the past.

“Since its inception and ultimate operationalisation, more than 5 000 women have opened accounts with ZWMB, most of these clients are into income-generating projects including; dairy farming, poultry, small-scale mining, soap-making, horticulture, among others.”

He said poultry production was the most favoured project in Masvingo Province. He encourage women to venture into other male-dominated sectors such as brick-moulding, bee-keeping and small-scale mining.

Mr Mupinga said gender mainstreaming in communities was achievable if women were bold enough to take risks.