• by IPS Correspondents (domboshawa, zimbabwe)
• Sunday, December 18, 1994
• Inter Press Service

DOMBOSHAWA, ZIMBABWE, Dic 18 (IPS) - EVERYDAY NEMESAI MUNETSI SITS BY HER LITTLE VEGETABLE STALL IN RURAL ZIMBABWE WAITING FOR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO PROVIDE THE PALTRY INCOME THAT KEEPS HER THREE CHILDREN ALIVE.

"MOST OF THE TIME WE WOMEN WORK AND THEN HAVE TO GIVE OUR HARD-EARNED CASH TO OUR MEN," SAYS MUNETSI. "THEY DON'T WORK, OR IF THEY DO, THEY DON'T HELP US IN THE HOME. WE NEED OUR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE."

THE 34-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, WHO LIVES IN RURAL DOMBOSHAWA, ABOUT 40 KM NORTH OF HARARE, WELCOMES A RECENT MOVE TO EMPOWER WOMEN BY THE STATE.

THE DRIVE AIMS TO ENABLE MORE RURAL WOMEN, LIKE MUNETSI, TO BECOME FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT THROUGH THE SETTING UP OF THEIR OWN CO-OPERATIVES.

"AFTER PAYING LOBOLA (BRIDE PRICE) MEN TELL US 'YOU ARE UNDER ME'. WOMEN ARE SEEN AS PROPERTY. I SUPPORT ALL THAT THE STATE IS DOING FOR WOMEN," SAYS MUNETSI, WHO LOOKS OLDER THAN HER 34 YEARS.

HER FRIEND, COLLETTA GUVEYA, THE WIFE OF A SCHOOLTEACHER AT MUTAKE SCHOOL IN DOMBOSHAWA, ADDS HER VOICE: "I APPROVE OF THE GOVERNMENT GIVING WOMEN EQUAL RIGHTS. BUT MANY PROBLEMS FOR WOMEN ARE INGRAINED IN OUR CULTURE WHICH GIVES MEN ALL THE POWER."

ONE OF ZIMBABWE'S FEW WOMEN MINISTERS, FLORENCE CHITAURO, DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE, IS BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE WHICH WILL CULMINATE IN A NATIONAL PROVINCIAL SHOW DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN JANUARY.

THE SHOW, TO BE HELD IN THE CAPITAL HARARE, WILL BRING TOGETHER RURAL WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE BREADTH OF THE COUNTRY FOR SEMINARS ON ALL ASPECTS OF RUNNING CO-OPERATIVES. GOVERNMENT TRAINERS WILL BE ON HAND TO EXPLAIN THE RUNNING AND DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF THE SMALL-SCALE COLLECTIVE BUSINESSES.

"WE WANT THE WOMEN TO FORM CO-OPERATIVES SO THAT MOST, WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, CAN TRY TO GENERATE INCOMES FOR THEIR FAMILIES. MANY RURAL WOMEN HAVE HOME-BASED SKILLS THAT CAN BE ADAPTED TO PROVIDE THEM EARNINGS," SAYS THE DEPUTY MINISTER.

WOMEN ARE URGED TO BRING ALONG EXAMPLES OF THEIR VARIOUS SKILLS IN 65 CATEGORIES INCLUDING SEWING, HANDCRAFTS, POTTERY, COOKING AND TRADITIONAL BAKING -- USING BASIC EQUIPMENT AND INGREDIENTS. THE BEST WILL RECEIVE PRIZES.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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