UN-Women Executive Board Tours Empowerment Projects in Zimbabwe, Applauds Progress

The UN-Women Executive Board, led by Ms Nicola Clase, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, visited Zimbabwe on Thursday to assess projects aimed at enhancing women’s empowerment and fostering safer, more productive environments for women entrepreneurs.

Their first stop was the Umzingwane Safe Market in Esigodini’s Habane Extension, a flagship initiative under the UN Women Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Programme. This project, which was implemented in partnership with Katswe Sisterhood and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, forms part of the European Union-funded Spotlight Initiative, which is focused on ending gender-based violence.

The Umzingwane Safe Market was built to address the risks women face in informal trading environments and includes practical, gender-sensitive infrastructure. The facility boasts six kitchens, a secure locker room, a communal eating area, a children’s play centre, a verandah, and a storeroom to safeguard vendors’ goods—creating a safe, dignified, and functional space for women traders.

“We are so happy about this initiative and we are so excited about this new beautiful and decent facility,” said Mrs Winnie Ncube, vice chair of the Umzingwane Safe Market. “We are safe here. We are safe from dust and rain. It’s decent for us and we feel so empowered as women.”

From Esigodini, the Executive Board travelled to Bulawayo, where they met with Mayor David Coltart and toured the Bulawayo Maker Space innovation hub. The facility is designed to transform the operations of women-owned enterprises, particularly in the textile industry, by providing access to specialized equipment, renewable energy, and affordable workspace. The initiative is a collaboration between UN Women, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the International Labour Organisation, and the Bulawayo Chamber of SMEs.

More than 400 women have benefited from the Bulawayo Maker Space, where they are supported to scale their businesses in a tough economic climate.

“We are so grateful for the support we got from UN Women,” said Mrs Samkeliso Nyambiri, chairperson of the Maker Space. “Our production levels have improved tremendously as well as the quality of our products. It has helped us to increase our production and survive in a difficult marketing environment.”

Ms Clase expressed admiration for the progress made, stating: “I am so pleased to see such initiatives that place women at the centre of economic participation. It is important for Zimbabwe to design and implement initiatives that respond to the needs of women more effectively.”

Mayor Coltart echoed her sentiments, noting the importance of building strong ties with UN agencies like UN Women to drive inclusive economic development. “Closer cooperation with UN agencies could help boost the city’s economic development and build a better future for women and girls,” he said.

UN Women has worked closely with local non-governmental and community-based organizations under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, which supports programs in 20 countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean. Zimbabwe is one of the African countries benefitting from this four-year, US$30 million programme aimed at ending violence against women and girls and supporting gender equality.

The UN-Women Executive Board is currently on a week-long visit in Zimbabwe to engage with stakeholders, evaluate the impact of funded initiatives, and explore opportunities for future collaboration that align with Zimbabwe’s national development goals.

As the country pushes toward inclusive and sustainable development, these targeted interventions are proving to be powerful examples of how international cooperation can uplift communities and empower women to thrive economically and socially.