THE Network of African Business Women (NABW) is working on a pilot project to provide women with collateral-free loans and the project has already begun.
BY VICTORIA MTOMBA
Speaking last week at the Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe Women’s Day celebrations dinner, NABW chairperson Hazel Chinake said the organisation has 10 000 women on its database and was working on several initiatives to assist women.
“We have been engaging with the financial sector on financial inclusion. We have been a key partner in the process. Our women are able to access credit collateral free and the facility will be rolled out soon but it is still a pilot project,” Chinake said.
She said she could not divulge more on the financial product so far.
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“In essence, we have negotiated with microfinance institutions to relax their terms of lending as we speak they are doing that,” he said.
NABW began in 2012 and works with over 50 women’s organisations throughout the country. The organisation helps women access various markets and is working towards another partnership with Tanzania.
The Women’s Day celebrations were held through a partnership between Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe, NABW and the Institute of Personnel Management Zimbabwe.
Lafarge Cement chief executive officer Amal Tantawi said by investing in gender equality that was most likely to positively impact the firm’s bottom line through improved morale, performance and productivity from equitable workplace practices that select, develop and treat people-based on merit and fairness.
She also said the company would also be able to improve its ability to attract and recruit top talent and accrue other benefits.
This year’s Women’s Day celebrations theme was ‘Planet 50:50 by 2030 step it up for gender equality.
The day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Zimbabwe commemorates the day although women are still not yet there in occupying the leadership positions.