‘Take part in women’s initiatives and stop depending on men’
WOMEN must take part in Government initiatives crafted to develop them and stop depending on men financially, an official has said.
Speaking during a chicken-rearing training programme for Nkayi women to prepare them for a chicken project courtesy of the First lady Dr Grace Mugabe, Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said it was time women discarded the dependency syndrome on men.
Dr Mugabe, who is also the ruling party’s Women’s League secretary, is set to give out 3 000 chickens per province to women.
“We are gathered here to train women for Dr Mugabe’s poultry project. We are now past that time when women could hide behind the fact that things are tough, they need to rise and embrace the project and fend for their families,” said Minister Nyoni.
“Women are also showcasing their cooking skills for the food fair competition and we are grateful that Nkayi women have shown us that they are willing to learn and take up Government initiatives crafted to empower them.”
She urged women to do their best in implementing the project as it is Dr Mugabe’s dream to see every Zimbabwean woman empowered.
Zanu-PF Women’s League executive secretary for Economic Affairs, Cde Donny Sibanda, urged women to take the lessons presented to them by Mr Marvellous Chiketa seriously.
“We are grateful that we have a mother Dr Grace Mugabe who wants women to be empowered. We are past that era where women have to rely on men, with this project they can help their spouses pay fees and furnish their kitchens,” said Mrs Sibanda.
Irvine’s Breeders have partnered the First Lady to roll-out the chicken project countrywide. The programme also encompasses capacity building and training programmes.
The company’s representative, Mrs Sisa Mpofu, implored beneficiaries to adhere to strict hygiene and rearing standards to register high survival rates of the chickens. — @thamamoe