Zimbabwe Women's Participaton in Economy Low, Says Minister

Dr. Olivia Muchena, the Zimbabwe Minister of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos

Women’s participation in economy low — Minister

New Ziana.

Despite the crafting of legislation to empower them, the level of participation of women in various spheres of the economy is still low, a Cabinet minister has said.

Speaking on Friday, Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Dr Olivia Muchena said although the concept of empowerment had been grasped at the grassroots, women still lacked capacity.

"We have ordinary rural village women in possession of mining claims but have nothing to use," she said.

Dr Muchena said this in a lecture delivered to 30 beauty contestants in camp for the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe finals.

At least 18 laws have been crafted, since independence, to specifically leverage and empower women.

She said with adequate support, women could contribute significantly to the turnaround of the country’s economic fortunes.

"Of the 50kg of gold purchased with funds availed by TN Bank, 20kg came from women miners," she said.

She said there were fewer women on top in the corporate world in Zimbabwe compared to countries such as South Africa.

"We are not yet there," she said.

Dr Muchena pointed out that the journey of empowerment had to be fast-tracked through the Constitution and affirmative action.

Meanwhile, the minister urged the models to take their chosen profession seriously.

"Modelling is a career and you can start charting a career path through it," she said,

The minister added that the girls had the whole world opened up and needed to establish networks that were beneficial.

She said the girls existed in an era with vast opportunities and that various ministries stood ready to assist them realise their aspirations.

Dr Muchena urged the girls to remain objective and not to forget their African values.

"Celebrate the African beauty as seen and understood through African eyes and values," she said.

She lamented the fact that the standards of beauty under which girls were operating were being determined elsewhere.

Selection of the country’s beauty and tourism ambassador takes place on Saturday. — New Ziana.