Pazvakavambwa to grace WEDO business conference and expo

By Angeline Zimbwani Mikiri 

Permanent secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution (Masvingo Province) Dr. Addmore Pazvakavambwa will grace this year's Women’s Entrepreneurship Day organisation business conference and expo. The conference will run under the theme Inspire Inclusion. The event will be held at Leesinn Hotel in Masvingo Town. The conference and Expo will be held also as a way of commemorating the International women's day which falls on the 8th of March and subsequently the Month of March is dubbed as the Women’s Month. Dr Pazvakavambwa is coming at a time when Masvingo is geared to harness all the business and investment opportunities. Call for investment proposals by the office of the President and the cabinet is on course. He will highlight investment opportunities in the province and how women can harness such opportunities. Masvingo lies on the Southern part of Zimbabwe. It has 7 districts, namely Bikita Zaka Chivi Mwenezi Chiredzi Gutu and Masvingo Districts. The provincial capital, Masvingo is equidistant to all major cities in Zimbabwe, namely Mutare Harare Bulawayo Beitbridge, which are 300km from Masvingo to these respective cities.Various captains of Industry are set to converge at Lees Inn for the purpose of formulating winning strategies,showcasing their products and services as well formulating business synergies. I attended the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority workshop recently at the Chevron hotel. The town clerk for the City of Masvingo Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa highlighted a great need to move with time and add value to tourism packages. " If we have to attract high level events and conferences and inorder for us to effectively bid for such big events, Masvingo tourism players must add more value to their tourism packages.They must come up with exciting packages that attract tourists and major conferences and events organisers. Hoteliers must include game drives, zipliners, boat cruises, and other games so that the travel becomes as exciting as possible, " he said. 

Masvingo Province is a tourism zone, and much needs to be done so as to improve the influx of tourists. 

As this years theme suggests inclusivity, Women Entrepreneurship Day organisation is conducting an initiative that has the potential to transform the lives of thousands of women and girls in communities. This program aims to educate women entrepreneurs, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance their productivity, improve livelihoods, and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the country. Women face significant challenges in the various sectors of the economy. A substantial portion of the population relies on farming, mining, livestock production, selling different kinds of staff for their livelihoods, and women constitute a significant proportion of this workforce.

They also often face barriers to access in education and limit their capacity to contribute to food security and economic growth.

Women play a pivotal role in food production, accounting for approximately 70% of the workforce in Zimbabwe. Yet, they frequently lack access to modern marketing techniques, work space, resources, and financial literacy. 

This program seeks to address this disparity by providing comprehensive mentorship to thousands of women, enabling them to increase their productivity, enhance capacity, and generate sustainable incomes. It is against the above background that women need to engage in the economic development process of the land. The business conference and Expo will help them to meet like-minded business leaders from across the country to network and exchange corporate ideas and explore as well as engage in quality conversations.An exciting program where various business experts will articulate key issues as well guest musicians and other speakers from the government,the financial services sector,nongovernmental organisations, and various business associations.

WEDO is a global movement celebrated in more than 144 nations including Zimbabwe and its mission is to empower the 4 billion women across the globe to be catalysts of change, and uplift the 250 million girls living in poverty globally. In addition to our mission of empowerment, we are committed to gathering a think tank of inspiring women leaders who can amplify our message of expanding businesses with social-good initiatives in communities around the world

Angie is the Founder and director of Shekinah Media 

Publishers of Great Zimbabwe Times Magazine 

She is also the Country Ambassador for Women Entrepreneurship Day Organisation 

She can be contacted at mikiri.angie@gmail.com