Bubi Rural District Council (RDC) in Matebeleland North has taken a significant step towards women’s economic empowerment by establishing a US$10 000 revolving fund to support income-generating projects across the district’s 23 wards.
The fund, which is set to benefit women of all age groups is designed to provide financial assistance to emerging and existing community-based enterprises, enabling them to expand and become sustainable.
Speaking during an interview with CITE, Information and Technology Officer Anorld Ndebele said the revolving fund is central to the council’s broader strategy of uplifting women and promoting self-reliance within the district.
“So right now, what we are doing to empower women, there is a revolving fund that has been put out by council which is $10 000. The whole idea of this revolving fund is to empower almost everyone in the district,” said Ndebele
The IT officer said while a few wards have been identified, the process of selecting beneficiaries is still ongoing, with priority expected to be given to projects that are already operational and show potential for growth.
“We are keen to start with those projects that are already running. They will tell us their needs, their budgets, and where they want to grow to,” he said.
Under the revolving fund model, beneficiaries will be required to repay the funds once their businesses stabilize, allowing the same financial resources to be extended to other women across the district.
“Once that support helps them take off, they will repay the fund so that it can assist other women in the district,” Ndebele added.
Meanwhile, women in the district are already engaged in a variety of productive activities under the council’s empowerment programme. These include handmade crafts such as crocheted hats, handbags, key holders and decorated flip-flops.
“We have handmade projects from our women empowerment programme. These include crocheted hats, hand bags, key holders and flip-flops that have been crocheted,” said Ndebele
In addition to crafts, the programme also supports the production of household consumables such as detergents, toilet cleaners, pine gels, dishwashing liquids, foam baths and petroleum jelly, all produced locally.
One of the beneficiary of the project Grave Mahlangu said this initiative is expected to strengthen livelihoods, promote entrepreneurship and enhance household incomes across the district.