TOURISM MINISTRY WORKING WITH WOMEN AFFAIRS TO SUPPORT START-UPS

THE Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry is working closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to identify players in the sector and assist them with start-up support, particularly women and youths.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said the collaboration seeks to establish who is operating within the sector, their location and numbers as part of broader efforts to empower marginalised groups and grow the industry.

Minister Rwodzi was responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday.

She said the initiative is in line with the Government’s whole-of-Government approach espoused under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and now NDS2.

“Our President had plans in NDS1, which are also in NDS2, for all the Government sectors to work together.

“So, our Ministry is working together with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, for us to know those in the business of tourism and hospitality industry, whether they are women or youths, where they are and their numbers.

“Together with our departments, women in tourism, youths in tourism and Women Affairs, we are mainly encouraging women and youths,” she said.

“We also look into the grants that are given by the Government, together with foreign investors who would want to assist in the tourism sector, since we are now known for tourism worldwide and we have been ranked the number one destination in Forbes magazine.

“So, as the Ministry of Tourism, we are now well known. We are working together with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises in giving our youths and women encouragement to grow their businesses.

“When these programmes are being done, they come through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and are broadcast so that many people get to know about them,” said Minister Rwodzi.

She said the partnership will ensure that deserving beneficiaries, especially women and young entrepreneurs, are formally registered, capacitated and linked to funding opportunities.

The move is expected to broaden participation in the tourism and hospitality industry, which has become one of the country’s key economic pillars, contributing significantly to employment creation, foreign currency generation and community development.

By working in coordination with Women Affairs, the ministry aims to strengthen grassroots participation, formalise small players and enhance inclusive growth in line with Vision 2030.

Source