VICE-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has urged stakeholders in Government and the banking sector to support the Young Women for Economic Development (YWED) initiative in its quest to start income-generating projects.
Presiding at the graduation ceremony of over 600 young women from Mashonaland East province who were yesterday presented with certificates of attendance in mushroom farming, VP Chiwenga said women need support so they can exploit economic resources in the province.
He commended the YWED for initiating programmes that contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation.
“May I extend a humble plea to other empowerment agencies such as the Women’s Bank, Youth Empower Bank, the Ministry of Youths, Sports, Arts as well as that of Women’s Affairs Community, Small and Medium Enterprises to play their part in ensuring that members of this movement are supported technically, structurally and resource-wise,” he said.
“For instance, young women here in Mashonaland East Province require to be supported to exploit the resource endowments characterising the different districts in the province.
‘”I want to applaud Young Women for ED for spreading its wings to provinces. It is hoped that they have penetrated districts and registered their presence in the most remote parts of our beloved country Zimbabwe.”
Before addressing the graduates, Vice President Chiwenga toured various stands where the women were exhibiting their products which ranged from farm produce to handcrafts.
VP Chiwenga said the programme is in line with the developmental mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“Indeed this kind of determination answers directly to the call by Government for our citizens to put their hands on the deck and start contributing towards national development,” he said.
“On its part, the Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa will leave no one and no place behind. And as we march towards the attainment of an empowered middle-income economy by 2030 through policy integration such as NDS1 and our recent mantra that we are our own builders of this beautiful country, may I point out that Vision 2030 is realisable through empowering initiatives such as the Young Women for ED.”
VP Chiwenga promised to look into the concerns raised by young women which include incapacitation.
Senate President Mabel Chinomona commended Young Women for ED Chairperson Cde Tatenda Mavetere for championing women empowerment.
