Zimbabwe Highlights Women Empowerment at Africa-EU Forum

Zimababwe has showcased its women empowerment agenda at a high-level Women’s Forum held alongside the 1^st Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly in Ezulwini, Eswatini.

The forum centred on ‘Empowering women in agricultural value chains as drivers of economic development,’ aligned with the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer. The forum was convened by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), highlighting policy alignment and cross-regional cooperation to strengthen inclusive agricultural development.

The conference provided a platform for discussions on how women could economically empower themselves through agriculture in collaboration with OACPS African Regional Parliamentary Groups and the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly.

Key Highlights:

•           Zimbabwe pushes women-led agriculture and trade at Africa–EU Parliamentary Forum

•           Mutsvangwa calls for stronger regional trade support for women-led agribusinesses

•           Africa–EU forum spotlights Zimbabwe’s women empowerment and Vision 2030 reforms

Ms Ingeborg Ter Laak, Second Co–Vice President of the European Union Parliament, inaugurated the forum, emphasizing its imperative in fostering Africa-EU cooperation on gender and economic development. The proceeding was chaired by Ms Helen Pushie Manyeng, Deputy Speaker of the Botswana National Assembly. She facilitated structured engagements aimed at advancing policy solutions for women’s empowerment and inclusive growth.

Zimbabwe was represented by the forum by the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, alongside the Deputy Senate President, Senator Mike Nyambuya, as well as other members of Parliament.

These visits showcased the nation’s resolve to adopt policies to empower nation’s women, enhance SMEs, and foster inclusive economic growth via active engagement in regional and international policy discourses.

Participation in such an event pointed out that reforms were in progress in order to enhance access by women to land, markets, finance, and training, among other things, with the intention of ensuring better rural livelihoods and increased agricultural production.

According to Mutsvangwa, the empowerment agenda for women in her nation is anchored on the liberation period when women played a central role in the fight for freedom and equality in socio-economic activities.

She noted that women still play an essential role in the agricultural sector where they act as farmers, processors, distributors, and even entrepreneurs in both rural and urban areas.

They stressed the fact that there are a number of challenges faced which hinder their full potential, such as limited land ownership rights, access to finance, modern technologies in farming, competitive markets, and decision-making positions.

The talks also circled around the achievements made through the leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, in terms of providing equal educational opportunities, reforms in the constitution and laws, and economic empowerment programs in line with Vision 2030.

Frameworks such as African Continental Free Trade Area play an important role in unlocking inclusive economic opportunities for women-led enterprises. Mutsvangwa also added the importance of strengthening cross-border trade, developing regional agro-processing hubs, harmonising regulatory and quality standards to market access for women in agriculture.