Zimbabwe: Ministry Spearheads Projects for Women

October 2, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Government is committed to improving the standards of living for women in Zimbabwe through self-help projects to fight drought-induced hunger and poverty in rural areas, the Minister of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Cde Oppah Muchinguri, has said.

She said her ministry was in the process of establishing self-help projects at the grassroots level to cater for marginalised women. "Our ministry is spearheading as many income-generating projects as possible across the country to ensure that women and children get enough assistance from Government," she said in a speech read on her behalf by the ministry's Permanent Secretary Dr Perpetua Gumbo in Chipinge on Saturday at Maunganidze Congregational Centre during the St Luke's Jekenishen Women Fellowship 12th anniversary.

She expressed hope that the recently introduced food processing projects would alleviate drought-induced hunger in rural areas. "We have realised that we have abundant fruits here in Chipinge that could be processed and benefit a lot of families in terms of income and food. Our women should be involved in these projects as they could also earn foreign currency for the country," added Cde Muchinguri. She urged people to form groups to ease the distribution of inputs and other resources provided by the Government.

Cde Muchinguri said her ministry was working closely with other stakeholders in the agricultural industry with the objective of promoting food processing enterprises to process cassava and sweet potatoes into flour.

"I want to challenge ward co-ordinators to ensure that inputs are put to good use and to work together as a team for the development of the country," the minister said. She warned that the Government would not hesitate to prosecute those who abuse strategic facilities and resources that are meant to turn around the economy. The St Luke's Jekenishen Women Fellowship is undertaking different self-help projects that include baking, interior décor and horticulture. The church is also looking after poor children that it equips with skills to develop themselves.

Cde Muchinguri donated $200 million to the fellowship towards the sustenance of existing projects and the establishment of new ones. The leader of the women's fellowship, Mrs Rumbidzai Pferedzai, praised Cde Muchinguri for the donation, saying this was clear testimony of the ministry's commitment to improving the lives of women in the area.

"We welcome the donation as it would go a long way in changing the lives of many women here in Maunganidze. As a church, we are going to make sure that all the projects prosper as is the mandate from Government," Mrs Pferedzai said.

From:http://allafrica.com/stories/200710020464.html