CIPE joined with Women In Business and Skills Development - Zimbabwe (WIB-Z) to host a training seminar for women entrepreneurs in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The seminar, held October 24-29 in Vumba, Zimbabwe, included participants from 25 women's business associations throughout the region:
The training addressed a variety of issues relevant to women in business, including strategic planning, membership development, marketing, small business development, public policymaking, and the role of business associations in a democratic society.
Obert Mpofu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce in Zimbabwe, spoke at the opening session of the conference. According to The Manica Post, one of the newspapers that covered the event, Mpofu noted that the contribution of women to their countries' economies has been undervalued since they often operate in a socio-cultural environment of alienation and dependency. "Traditional practices and beliefs have made the society believe that a woman's place is in the kitchen," he stated. "The developmental role of women in the SADC region in most cases has been thwarted by male chauvinism which is encouraged from an early age." Mpofu called on all Zimbabweans to promote the involvement of women in the development of the national economy.
The Post also cited an interview with Violet Madzimbamuto, President of Women in Business and Skills Development. Madzimbamuto urged women to branch out from family businesses to start their own enterprises. She also encouraged bankers to end the practice of discriminating against women who seek financing for their enterprises, noting that the statistics on women-owned businesses compare very favorably to those owned by men.
Yvonne Goma, Chair of the Zambia Federation of Associations of Women in Business, said that the seminar was very useful. She noted that women entrepreneurs in the SADC region are proving to be well-organized business leaders who contribute substantially to the recovery of the region's ailing economies. Goma expressed hope that participants in the seminar will be the torch bearers, carrying knowledge and resources back to their respective communities, to be shared with other local business women.
The seminar, part of CIPE's ongoing initiative to strengthen women's business associations in Africa and around the world, was funded by the National Endowment for Democracy. For additional information, contact Margo Jackson Spencer, CIPE's Public Liaison Officer, at (202) 721-9200.