Small enterprises key to Vision 2030 success: Minister

Tendai Gukutikwa

Mutare Bureau

WOMEN and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises must remain at the centre of Zimbabwe’s development agenda if the country is to achieve its Vision 2030 aspirations, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

Addressing delegates at the Catalysing Economic Development through the Informal Sector (CEDIS) programme closing ceremony in Mutare on Friday, Minister Mutsvangwa said Government was committed to creating an enabling environment that allows women and small businesses to thrive through increased access to finance, markets, technology and business development services.

“At the centre of Vision 2030 are women, youth, cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises. Studies indicate that MSMEs constitute over 70 percent of enterprises operating in Zimbabwe, with women accounting for more than 56 percent of enterprise ownership and participation.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said integrating women, youth and MSMEs into mainstream economic activities required a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach involving development partners, financial institutions, the private sector and communities.

She said this while applauding the Government of Sweden and other development partners for supporting Zimbabwe’s economic empowerment agenda through strategic partnerships.

It is through such partnerships that the CEDIS programme had successfully empowered thousands of women and young entrepreneurs while contributing towards the objectives of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.

Funded by the Embassy of Sweden and implemented by Mercy Corps, the US$5,8 million programme has been running since July 2022 and is set to conclude on June 30 this year.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the programme had directly supported more than 30 000 women and youth across Zimbabwe through interventions aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship, improving business performance and enhancing financial inclusion.

Through the project, women-led enterprises operating in agro-processing, waste management, small-scale manufacturing, renewable energy and machinery services had benefited from skills development, market access support and opportunities to improve productivity and increase revenues.

Minister Mutsvangwa noted that one of its major achievements was strengthening financial inclusion among women and small business owners.

Speaking at the same event, Sweden’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Per Lindgarde, said the achievements recorded under the programme demonstrated the power of collaboration in promoting entrepreneurship and job creation.

“Empowering youth and women is not only about creating opportunities for individuals, it is central to building resilient economies, supporting sustainable development, creating jobs, and unlocking innovation and investment for the future,” he said.

Ambassador Lindgarde said the programme had been designed around the needs and aspirations of participants, providing them with knowledge, networks and access to financial services required to grow their enterprises.

“The results speak for themselves. We have seen entrepreneurs and communities strengthen their businesses, expand their opportunities and gain confidence in their ability to shape their own future,” he said.

Mercy Corps’ country director, Ms Mildred Makore said the programme had left a lasting impact on thousands of women and young entrepreneurs by improving incomes, working conditions and resilience to economic shocks and stresses.

She said about 70 percent of the programme’s beneficiaries were young women, reflecting a deliberate focus on empowering a demographic that often faces barriers to accessing opportunities and finance.

“For four years, we have worked alongside Government, local authorities, financial institutions and private sector partners to unlock opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs.

“The success stories we celebrate today are proof that when women are empowered economically, entire families and communities benefit,” she said.