By Mzondiwa Dube
THE outbreak of Covid-19 came as a blessing in disguise for women entrepreneurs in Hwange, who despite the on-going lockdown restrictions continue to smile all the way to the bank.
Some women in this coal mining town were last year trained in various entrepreneurial skills, which have helped them to become among major producers and suppliers of hand sanitisers as well as liquid soaps.
These two products are the most sought after merchandise in Hwange as they play a pivotal role in efforts to contain Covid-19, which has also affected most countries in the world.
The products have found their way into most retail outlets in Hwange especially those located in high density areas and adjacent rural business centres.
Women participants were also trained to make soap, shoe polish, toilet cleaners, floor polish, ice-cream and cool drinks among others.
The training programme was conducted by Progressive African Youth Network (Payn), a Harare based organisation whose mandate is empowerment and community development.
Nelson Hove, the Payn chairman told Sunday Southern Eye that lack of manufacturing companies in Hwange created a lot of opportunities for upcoming entrepreneurs.
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“Our training programmes seek to promote local entrepreneurial skills and in the process minimise travelling to distant places in search of products that can be made locally,” said Hove whose organisation also operates in South Africa.
His sentiments were echoed by Elitha Sibanda, the area coordinator for Hwange district, who said they recently introduced an online free training course on the manufacture of petroleum jelly, floor polish, undiluted drinks and home-made yoghurt.
“The group had more than 300 people within two days of opening and this is an indication that locals are eager to empower themselves as well as create some form of employment,” Sibanda said.
However, their major challenge is lack of raw materials within Hwange and they are forced to go to distant such as Bulawayo or Harare.
Linah Mpala, who was trained on the manufacture of more than five different products, said there was need for government through the relevant line ministries to assist women entrepreneurs’ access loan from financial institutions.
“If we assisted in accessing soft loans from banks, we will certainly do wonders in manufacturing local made products,” Mpala said.
