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Wimbainashe Zhakata Manicaland Correspondent
GOVERNMENT is rolling out empowerment initiatives for women to reduce their dependence on charity and the benevolence of men, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Cde Monica Mutsvangwa has revealed.

In a speech read on her behalf by the director for provincial affairs in her office, Mr Kennedy Mugarisanwa, at Mutasa District’s belated International Woman’s Day celebrations in Hauna on Monday, Minister Mutsvangwa urged women to stand up and be counted.

“The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development is rolling out the initiatives to empower women economically,” she said.

“It is important that you are recognised, not as vulnerable members of society in need of charity but as a formidable force that needs to be released, empowered and massively invested in, to fulfil your potential and drive the country’s economic growth.”

The celebrations were running under the theme “Time is now – Transforming Women’s Lives through Economic Empowerment”.

Minister Mutsvangwa advised women to be recognised as hardworking people rather than vulnerable members in the society.

“Some of these projects and initiatives being rolled out by Government include Genstar honey processing in Chakohwa, Chimanimani, the Hauna horticultural processing plant for fruits and vegetables that is in its infancy stages in Honde Valley, Chiedza group for horticulture and agribusiness in Nyanga, linking women horticultural entrepreneurs in the province with the Namibian horticultural export market following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries,” she said.

“Let’s not forget the safe shelters and one-stop centres for survivors of gender violence being established across the province, just to mention a few.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said she firmly believed that the eradication of poverty and the empowerment of women economically were the cornerstones of achieving gender equality.

A successful macadamia and avocado farmer from Mutasa, Mrs Daphne Mbanje, hailed the International Women’s Day celebrations and encouraged other women to replicate her farming prowess and work hard to earn money through farming.

“I appreciate what Government is doing for us,” she said. “As a female farmer, I encourage women to work hard and generate their own income through farming.

“The Government should continue helping female farmers especially through the provision of working capital and market information.

“Women should be recognised for their farming prowess because often men are the ones that get all the credit yet women do all the work and projects on the farm.”