Women constitute 52% of Zimbabwe’s population, with over 80% living in rural areas and contributing 70% of agricultural labour.
By Brenda Mazhambe
Harare, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe yesterday joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Rural Women, with the government reaffirming its commitment to advancing gender equality, economic empowerment, and digital inclusion for women in rural communities.
Addressing the commemorations, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, said this year’s theme, “Rural Women Rising – Shaping Resilient Futures with Beijing+30,” reinforces the country’s resolve to promote women’s participation in climate-smart agriculture, technology, and financial inclusion.
“As we commemorate this important day, we must reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring that rural women are at the forefront of building climate resilience, strengthening food security, and conserving the resources that sustain us all,” said Hon Mutsvangwa.
The minister highlighted that women constitute 52% of Zimbabwe’s population, with over 80% living in rural areas and contributing 70% of agricultural labour. Despite their immense role in national development, many face persistent barriers such as limited access to education, markets, digital tools, and finance.
To bridge this gap, Minister Mutsvangwa announced the launch of the Mudzimayi Wanhasi Empowerment Hub, a new initiative established in partnership with the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and supported by the French Embassy. The Hub will serve as a centre for digital skills training, online marketing, e-commerce, and mobile banking to help rural women participate fully in the digital economy.
“This Hub will act as a space where women can access training in digital literacy, online marketing, e-commerce, and mobile banking, empowering them to grow their businesses, reach new markets, and participate more fully in the digital economy,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa extended her appreciation to the French Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Paul Bertrand Barets, for supporting the initiative, and commended WCoZ for its role in implementing the project.
The Empowerment Hub, she said, will also support climate-smart agriculture by introducing digital tools that provide farmers with real-time weather data, market prices, and modern farming techniques. This will enable rural women to make informed agricultural decisions, improve productivity, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The minister also outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance financial inclusion, noting that her ministry oversees four major credit facilities — the Women Development Fund, Zimbabwe Community Development Fund, Women’s Microfinance Bank, and SMEDCO — all aimed at promoting access to capital for women entrepreneurs.
“The empowerment hub will integrate digital financing solutions to ensure that even women in remote areas can access funding through mobile platforms,” she added.
Mutsvangwa further urged rural women to lead in community-based climate adaptation, champion food security, and take active roles in environmental conservation and decision-making structures.
“Empowering rural women is essential for achieving sustainable development and protecting our planet for future generations,” she said. “When rural women thrive, families prosper, communities flourish, and the nation advances.”
The event concluded with the official launch of the International Day of Rural Women celebrations and the Paruware/Mudzimayi Wanhasi Empowerment Hub, marking a significant step in Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to empower rural women through innovation, technology, and inclusive growth.
