22 Aug 2022

There is need for young women in business to collaborate in order to grow as entrepreneurs and in turn change the narrative that only men dominated the business world.

Speaking at a young women in business initiative networking seminar on Saturday, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Mr Lameck Nthekela said collaboration was important because it improved the way the team worked as well as problem solving.

Mr Nthekela added that collaboration would also equip women with innovative skills which would see them reach their goals.

He therefore encouraged women to take advantage of technology to market their businesses and existing close gaps.

“You can market or sell your products to countries like Zimbabwe online and this is what the new Ministry of Entrepreneurship advocates for,” he said, also emphasising the need for mindset change in order for businesses to thrive.

Further, Mr Nthekela also encouraged women to network, saying that would enable them to collaborate with other experts who would help them grow their businesses.

“The benefits of business networking could be having another business finance you or investing in your business,” he said.

On one hand, Mr Nthekela said the ministry needed input from women in order to identify any gaps that could be putting small businesses in jeopardy, given that its portfolio responsibilities included assisting small businesses as well as empowering citizens economically.

In an interview, one of the organisers and also the founder of young women in business, Ms Rumbidzai Thibatsela said their aim was to assist grow at least 20 businesses in each sector.

Ms Thibatsela said they also aimed to create platforms for women that would help them to foster growth and sustainability.

That, she said included workshops, empowerment sessions, conferences and events and trainings others. Again, she said they would also make an effort to give women businesses adequate international exposure.

Meanwhile, women from all sectors which included among others, education, health and beauty, wellness, arts and entertainment and construction and engineering attended the business networking seminar. ENDS