Stanbic Bank’s Anakazi initiative gets Govt backing
GOVERNMENT has committed to continue supporting initiatives such as Anakazi Banking which empower women-led businesses in all sectors of the economy.
Anakazi Banking is an initiative being run by Stanbic Bank Zambia to empower women.
Government recognises a robust private sector growth, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), is the most powerful driver of job creation, says Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda.
Ms Kasanda said Government would therefore, continue to support initiatives, such as Anakazi Banking, by bringing out the full potential of women in key productive sectors of the economy.
She said this on Friday during the Stanbic Anakazi Banking gala evening to commemorate Women’s Month as part of the bank’s initiative to celebrate leading women in the economy.
“Government is happy that through Anakazi Banking, Stanbic has provided capacity-building programmes and continuous support through the access to finance, business linkages and networking opportunities.
“We encourage other financial institutions to emulate Stanbic in this regard. This is evidence that women are better and prudent managers of resources placed under their care; they are able to grow and sustain their businesses from very humble financial support for the benefit of their families,” Ms Kasanda said.
She noted that Stanbic Anakazi Banking had continued to support female-led businesses in Zambia to promote equitable opportunities and help them realise their dreams.
This, Ms Kasanda said, was commendable and consistent with government’s agenda to empower women to take up their rightful place in national development.
“I would be failing in my duties if I do not recognise the efforts that Stanbic Bank has played in enhancing the growth of our women in society,” she said.
And Stanbic Head of Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), Helen Lubamba, explained that Stanbic’s Anakazi proposition was designed to boost women’s growth across all sectors of the economy.
“Anakazi has hit six years this year. We were disrupted by Covid-19, but we’ve made it a point to come together and grow beyond just being about women and doing the things people expect of women.
“It is about our day-to-day lives; how do we grow the economy because women are really the anchor of a lot of development that we’re trying to drive, not just nationally, but globally,” Ms Lubamba said.