First Lady Calls for Unity Among Women at Launch of Women Food Market
By Chiyedzo Josiah Dimbo
Harare — In a stirring and purposeful address at the launch of Zimbabwe’s first-ever Women Food Market, the First Lady, Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, issued a heartfelt call for unity and collaboration among women as a key driver of economic empowerment and national development.
Speaking to a vibrant gathering of women entrepreneurs, government officials, and supporters, the First Lady stressed the urgent need for women to move beyond competition and embrace solidarity as a strategy for growth. “Gone are the days of dog-eat-dog,” she declared. “Together, women can build strong enterprises, support families, and contribute meaningfully to Zimbabwe’s economy.”
Empowerment Through Unity
The launch of the Women Food Market marks a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s efforts to create inclusive economic spaces for women. Designed as a platform where women can showcase and sell their culinary products, the market also serves as a hub for networking, knowledge-sharing, and mentorship.
Dr. Mnangagwa emphasized that women’s progress in business should not be seen as isolated success stories, but as interconnected triumphs that uplift communities. She urged women to exchange ideas, collaborate on solutions, and create alliances that strengthen resilience in the face of economic challenges.
“When women support women, families thrive, communities prosper, and the nation wins,” she said.
A Platform for Progress
The Women Food Market initiative is a grassroots-driven economic model with national potential. Vendors at the launch included women selling homegrown organic produce, traditional meals, preserves, baked goods, and value-added food products—demonstrating the rich culinary and entrepreneurial talent that often remains unseen.
“This is more than a market—it’s a movement,” said one of the participants. “We are not just selling food; we are feeding futures.”
Beyond business, the event created space for skills training, digital marketing workshops, and cooperative development sessions, signaling a holistic approach to empowerment.
Government Support and Vision
Joining the First Lady at the event was the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa, who praised the initiative as an alignment of policy and purpose.
“This endeavor reflects our government’s commitment to empowering women and ensuring that small and medium enterprises—especially those led by women—are placed at the heart of national development,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa also pointed to ongoing efforts to support women entrepreneurs through funding, training, and market access as outlined in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Inspiring a New Business Ethic
The First Lady’s message challenged prevailing notions of competition among women and introduced a vision of economic sisterhood, where success is shared and built collectively.
“The old mindset of pulling each other down must go,” she said. “It is time to pull each other up.”
The event closed with a tour of the market stalls and an invitation to expand the Women Food Market to other provinces, with the hope that the model will become a national fixture promoting inclusive entrepreneurship.
Looking Ahead
As Zimbabwe continues to confront economic pressures, initiatives like the Women Food Market signal a renewed focus on grassroots economic empowerment. By promoting unity, resilience, and knowledge exchange among women, the First Lady’s call is likely to inspire a new era of collaboration in business—one where women are no longer competitors, but co-creators of national prosperity.
