Step up to the plate, women urged

WOMEN should come out of their shells and start playing a pivotal role in nation building, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.

Addressing scores of women gathered to commemorate the International Women’s Day at Gokwe Nemangwe Business Centre yesterday, Vice President Mohadi - who was represented by Minister of State in his office Cde Davis Marapira, said the country’s vision to achieve an upper middle income economy can only be achieved if women rise to the occasion and play ball.

“President Emmerson Mnangagwa envisions an upper middle income economy with high quality life for its citizens and the restoration of national unity, pride and patriotism by the year 2030.

“This vision cannot be attained with women continuing to do business as usual. Women must not do business as usual but rise to the occasion and play their role in turning around the economy,” said VP Mohadi.

He said women have for long remained recipients and consumers of the end product and should now stand up and take leading roles in building the economy.

“This year’s International Women’s Day commemorations theme is ‘Think build smart, innovate for change”. This theme calls for a paradigm shift. Women should thus shy away from being recipients and consumers of the end product.

“You should be innovators from various facets and venture into those areas that have been predominantly male,” said VP Mohadi.

He said women were multi-talented and should therefore use their talents to better themselves.

“It is my conviction that you are all endowed with various skills and talents which we will need to explore collectively to the maximum for the good of the country,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cde Sithembiso Nyoni said women play a critical role in the society and should be celebrated.

She said women, however, continue to face various challenges that include lack of access to health and financial support.

She applauded the First Lady for spearheading the cancer screening campaign adding that the development has

resulted in many women getting assisted and treated for various diseases.

“Women have for long been lagging behind especially in the health care but we would like to thank the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa for her work in the cancer awareness campaign. She has been doing a wonderful job and we should remember her works as we celebrate this important day,” she said.