The Sunday Mail
Local entrepreneur Angeline Simangele Nyatanga has called on financial institutions to consider revising lending rates and requirements so that they become less restrictive to female business people.
The country’s apex bank, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, has launched several facilities to capacitate small businesses in mining, horticulture and cross border trading, among other areas.
However, Mrs Nyatanga has said access to such facilities is still problematic for ordinary women aspiring to start businesses due to lack security.
“The requirements are too much for the ordinary woman who wants to be supported for start-up projects. There is need for the RBZ to look into this. As it is now, it seems the facilities are for those who have already made it, but how about those from the grassroots?”
Mrs Nyatanga, through her organisation, the Zimbabwe Women in Industry (ZAWII), seeks to equip women with the right tools and skills for them to tap into the bottomless pit of business opportunities.
She is targeting the economic emancipation of women from all backgrounds.
Through active participation, women are contributing to the country’s economic agenda.
ZAWII mainly targets women from marginalised communities.
It embraces those who aspire to run economic projects as well as those seeking to expand their projects into big businesses.
The ultimate goal is to see more women contributing to exports, value addition and job creation.
This, Mrs Nyatanga said, could be achieved through equipping women with various entrepreneurial, business management, and financial management skills; as well as inculcating a culture of savings.
Creating market linkages is also vital.
Mrs Nyatanga, who is the founder and president of ZAWII, said access to the right information will allow women to position themselves for investment opportunities coming from both domestic and international investors, as the country improves its business operating environment.
“Right now we are saying Zimbabwe is open for business, but what part should women play in all this? If the ordinary woman is not emancipated, we would be doing the nation a disservice.
“If women do not have the right tools and skills, they will not benefit from the opportunities that are availed as Zimbabwe opens for business. That is where ZAWII comes in, to change women’s position in the economics of the land.
“For those selling perishables like vegetables, we encourage them to value add so that nothing goes to waste,” she said.
Mrs Nyatanga’s organisation has partnered a local non-governmental organisation to avail a revolving fund to capacitate 10 groups of female entrepreneurs.
These are drawn mainly from Harare and other towns.
Their projects range from textile and garment making, market gardening and manufacturing. The women have also received training in the use of information and communication technology to advance their cause.
Mrs Nyatanga said she draws inspiration from her experiences and passion to see women gain economic independence.
She said through her 23-year experience in running her IT company — Pren Computers — she has realised that women remain marginalised in business, be it in the tendering process or in holding influential positions,
This, she said, is what drives ZAWII.
“Women are still marginalised, only a few have made it and are in several boards.
“Women are the backbone of the society and their emancipation goes beyond themselves. It is for the whole family, community and nation,” she said.
Since its formation in 2015, ZAWII has trained over 3 000 women and anticipates to double the figure this year.
ZAWII now has chapters in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Concession and Chinhoyi. The organisation is considering to venture into the rest of the country.
