Story by Godfrey M Bonda
Harare – The training of provincial leadership for Single Ladies for Economic Development emerged as more than a routine organisational gathering, positioning itself as a strategic platform centred on women empowerment, economic participation, and community transformation in line with Vision 2030.
Bringing together delegates from Glen View, Mbare, Highfield, Budiriro, Hopley, Mabvuku, Chitungwiza, Houghton Park, Amsterdam Park, and Hatcliffe, the programme reflected growing efforts to integrate women into broader national development processes through entrepreneurship, skills development, and leadership training.
Founding National Chairperson, Chiedza Mavhongo, who was the guest of honour, underscored the organisation’s commitment to inclusive economic empowerment and reaffirmed support for Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 as part of efforts toward national development and policy continuity.
Harare Province Chairlady, Chipo Nyaguse, was among the provincial leadership coordinating the event, which brought together women from different communities under a shared vision of economic participation and social upliftment.
The gathering also attracted stakeholders from government institutions, including DEO Blessing Gudyanga from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, who called for unity among women as a foundation for sustainable empowerment.
“As women, you must unite and concentrate on the economic development of your lives,” he said, adding that women remain central to the achievement of national development goals under Vision 2030.
The discussions extended beyond motivation into practical economic empowerment strategies. Officer Bhayera highlighted ongoing training programmes under women empowerment initiatives, focusing on practical skills such as baking, cooking, and small business management.
She stressed the importance of the Business Canvas Model, noting that branding and packaging have become critical components in modern entrepreneurship. According to the presentations, women’s participation in business cannot be isolated from broader value chain systems, where production, marketing, and presentation collectively determine competitiveness.
Access to capital also featured prominently during the training, with emphasis placed on opportunities available through the Community Development Fund and Women Development Fund. Facilitators encouraged women to utilise such financial mechanisms as stepping stones toward sustainable enterprise growth rather than survivalist trading.
Representing the Department of Civil Protection on behalf of Mr Nkomo, officials from the Ministry of Local Government commended the contribution of single women toward national development, describing their participation in community and economic initiatives as critical to inclusive growth.
The Ministry further expressed support for opportunities that transcend gender stereotyping, emphasising the importance of creating environments where women can fully participate in economic and leadership spaces.
Officials also acknowledged the role being played by Single Ladies for ED as an affiliate supporting national development programmes and community mobilisation efforts aligned with the ruling party’s broader empowerment agenda.
Beyond the speeches and training sessions, the event reflected a wider policy direction increasingly visible under NDS2, where women empowerment is no longer being framed purely as a social issue, but as an economic imperative linked to productivity, enterprise development, and grassroots industrial participation.
The training therefore highlighted a growing recognition that achieving Vision 2030 will depend not only on macroeconomic policies, but on the extent to which ordinary women are integrated into the country’s economic transformation agenda.
