Musina - Women in Africa are on the move towards total economic emancipation, says Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu.
“I think no one can deny the fact that women in the African continent are on the move step by step towards total economic emancipation…
“We are building confidence and empowering each other…now that the political empowerment has happened for many years, we are now saying we want economic and financial independence,” she said on Friday.
Minister Zulu was speaking at the two-day joint Trade Fair and exhibition at the border town of Musina between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The Trade Fair is expected to create a new market for women entrepreneurs of the two neighbouring countries.
Addressing women entrepreneurs from both Zimbabwe and South Africa, the Minister said their respective economies are intricately linked.
“South Africa cannot grow without Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe cannot grow without South Africa. We are all responsible for the development and growth of our region and continent,” she said.
Minister Zulu said working in isolation, there will not be able to see the optimal potential of the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise Businesses (SMME) sector in the two countries.
“As the two biggest trading partners on the continent, we must ensure that small businesses and cooperatives become biggest beneficiaries of the economic co-operation of our countries.
“We are determined to ensure that small businesses and cooperatives in both South Africa and Zimbabwe become the true catalyst for accelerated growth and development,” she said.
She said the vision of the department is to see a radically transformed economy through effective development and increased participation of SMMEs and cooperatives in the mainstream economy.
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, said this is the beginning of change, the beginning of transformation of economic empowerment in the two countries.
“The economic empowerment of women is a prerequisite of reducing poverty in our society, therefore, radical economic transformation without the full inclusion and empowerment of women is not sustainable,” Minister Shabangu said.
The overarching objective of this trade fair and exhibition is to look at the current policy framework and call for women empowerment in both countries in order to outline transformation actions that are critical for opening markets and to promote cross-border trade and sustainable access to finance for women of the two countries.
Zimbabwean Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Nyasha Chikwinya, highlighted the importance of opening business market for women entrepreneurs of the two neighbouring countries.
“Let’s open business doors for women in our respective countries, it is our view that there will be more development once women are economically empowered.”
Musina Local Municipal Mayor Cllr Mihloti Ramoyada said: “There is a good working relationship between South Africa and Zimbabwe. As a municipality, we will do our best to ensure that there is free trade for all women in the SADC region”. - SAnews.gov.za
