By Meditation Mposi
In a powerful display of resilience and unity, women from Masvingo Rural District Council ward 13 under the First Lady Widows Association and Saving and Credit Cooperation (SACCO) are making a living through various income generating projects.
The women recently gathered at Chikarudzo Business Centre on April 9 where they showcased their successes to motivate others.
The event was held under the theme ‘women participating in sectors of the economy without barriers’ where they showcased projects including detergent making, hairdressing and fence making.
Speaking at the event ward 13 councilor, Sarah Munemo said cooperatives empowered women and gave them independence from relying on their husbands.
“These projects empower women and relieved them from entirely depending on their husbands. They are now able to generate income to support their families. Widows as the only pillars of their families are now able to send their children to school through such projects. This reduces early child marriages, drug and substance abuse among children from underprivileged families.
She said they were hoping to generate more income from the projects and showcase their success stories at provincial level.
“Our aim is to generate more income so that we can be able to attend events at provincial level participating in our numbers because we are facing unfair competition with those in the urban. We wish to even host cooking competitions in our ward,” said Munemo.
Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Officer Varaidzo Revesai encouraged women to register their co-operatives which she said would assist them in getting grants and loans amongst other benefits.
“I encourage you to keep on doing your projects to prevent financial conflicts in your homes and in community. Registering your projects makes you eligible for grants. There is a 20 percent which is set aside to give to women in business,” said Revesai.
SACCO Secretary Nyemudzai Mugochi said the projects which was started in 2022 was thriving with the cooperative acquiring a commercial stand.
“We formed SACCO in 2022 and registered it in 2024. We save US$5 per person every month and so far we have managed to purchase a stand and we want to build infrastructure for the projects. People in our group borrow money and return it with 20 percent interest.
“I am grateful to SACCO as we are now able to support our families, borrowing money and returning it on time,” said Mugochi.
Kumbirai Chinyere from New Look Saloon said their aim was to reduce early child marriages by equipping young women and girls with skills they can use to generate income.
“Our aim is to support young girls, especially those who did not excel academically. Empowering young girls keep them engaged and helps prevent early child marriages and substance abuse.
“If a woman gets into a marriage empowered it can help them in navigating issues of abuse and enable her to financially support her family. So far I have eight members which I am training,” said Chinyere.
Docars Mugabe from the fence making project said they had recorded success from their end as the group has already acquired two fence making machines from the time they started in 2024.
“We started the project in December 2024 and we are 60 members. We have managed buy two fence making machines and employed a person who do that for us,” said Chinyere.
Ropafadzo Dunira, a member of the catering team said they offer incredible catering services and were making a living out of it.
“We offer incredible catering services for weddings, birthdays, family gatherings. We started this project in 2021with the aid of our councilor. Our catering name is Lulu’s Events.
“Those who are in need of catering aid are free to conduct us,” said Dunira.
