Valentine Makufa
More than ninety women from Masvingo and Zaka districts graduated at Maina Mandava’s farm located near Great Zimbabwe University Main campus on August 25 after undergoing a two week training course on baking and confectionaries facilitated by a Private Voluntary Organization called Grassroots Advocacy.
The organization’s Communications Director Byron Dzinoreva said the programme is aimed at empowering women by equipping them with the skills as they received certificates at the end of the training.
“We are going around training people especially women, life skills and entrepreneurs to be involved in bakery and confectionery business. So people will receive certificates after successfully completing the courses,” said Dzinoreva.
Grassroots Advocacy is funded by Patricia Chimombe, a United Kingdom-based philanthropist who hails from Zaka Central constituency.
Masvingo Zanu PF provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa appreciated Patricia Chimombe’s work during the graduation ceremony saying it has contributed greatly towards the Vision 2030 and encouraged more diasporans to do the same in their communities.
“Patricia Chimombe has shown the highest level of patriotism, to give back to the community that she comes from. We implore other diasporans to invest in skills development for women and contribute towards the Vision 2030 as espoused by our President ED Mnangagwa,” said Mavhenyengwa.
The organization was formed with the sole aim of trying to alleviate poverty and hunger thus ensuring food security in Masvingo communities.
It is premised on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 (eradication of poverty) and 2 (eradication of hunger).
It mainly targeted Zaka women but however spread to other districts.
The organization is currently focusing on women empowerment programmes and is looking forward to diversify in the future.
