The fourth edition of the Organisation for Women in International Trade — OWIT-Zimbabwe Open Market Day and Exhibition was a big success after over 250 exhibitors showcased their products and wares at the fair held last Wednesday at the ZRP Golf Club in Harare.
The annual signature effort is designed to empower, celebrate and upscale women-owned businesses through mentoring, market linkages, counseling, funding as well as positioning for growth opportunities.
Speaking to Standard Style, OWIT-Zimbabwe president Buhlebenkosi Ostlea Nyathi thanked various partners and stakeholders for making the event a success, highlighting that emancipation of women remains central to their work as an organisation.
“We are greatly humbled by the immense support we received and resultantly the great success we recorded at the fourth edition of our annual Open Market Day and Exhibition event in marking International Women’s Day. This signature effort is a clear testimony of our commitment to women emancipation,” she said.
“I am even more grateful that the support we received from partners like the Netherlands Embassy, National Foods, NMB, Omari, Bonvie Medical Aid, Competitive Brand Shapers (CBS), Siyenza and Elysian Essence made this event a success. Other prime exhibitors led by brands like Ecobank, Dairibord, Kefalos, ProDairy and Shreveport also led the way with their exhibitions and everyone in attendance was greatly inspired and empowered.”
Guest of honour at the event, Monica Mutsvangwa, who is the Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development minister commented the women for the unity of purpose and pledged continued government support for women owned businesses highlighting that empowerment of women is goof for families, the community and indeed for the country hence the need for more support and funding for their efforts.
“Our government remains duty bound in promoting women empowerment and gender justice and we are proud to work with progressive organisations like OWIT-Zimbabwe in that quest,” she said.
“Women are at the forefront of family, community as well as national development and we must give them all the necessary support to aid their efforts.
- Inaugural Empowered Women International Conference a big success
- Byo hosts women empowerment expo
- OWIT-Zimbabwe empowers and celebrates women
- Over 250 exhibitors attend OWIT-Zim fair
Keep Reading
“As promulgated by His Excellency the President Emmerson Mnangagwa, we are doing everything in our power to support women owned enterprises and we thank OWIT-Zimbabwe for walking the talk in that regard. We are in this together and all hope is not lost.”
Netherlands ambassador to Zimbabwe Margret Verwijk echoed Mutsvangwa’s sentiments and emphasised the importance of giving women their place in society.
The ambassador also pledged to continue rolling out more women empowerment programmes in support of ongoing efforts by other players including government.
“The embassy has continued to roll our various women empowerment programmes in Zimbabwe and we are grateful that we have seen them bear fruit and change lives around Zimbabwe,” she said.
“Women empowerment is critical in abolishing social ills like gender-based violence and other biases against women and we are committed to play our part in that regard.
“We are even more encouraged by our ongoing relationship with OWIT-Zimbabwe who have demonstrated great commitment in championing growth for women led businesses through their annual Open Market Day and other tailored initiatives.”
Other exhibiting brands like National Foods, Bonvie Medical Aid, NMB and Siyenza also shared some presentations on how women can tap from their tailored products and services, including funding opportunities, value added products as well as accessible medical aid schemes.
OWIT was founded in 1989 at a meeting in Los Angeles. It's a global, non-profit organisation that connects people who are interested in international trade and business.
Their local chapter OWIT-Zimbabwe has continued to roll out tailored women empowerment programmes that are making a difference across Zimbabwe.
