Zimbabwe Launches Digital Empowerment Hub for Rural Women: Minister Mutsvangwa Champions Tech Inclusion at International Day of Rural Women

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, has launched a groundbreaking digital empowerment initiative aimed at transforming the livelihoods of rural women through technology and financial inclusion.

Speaking at Murape Primary School in Seke District during the national launch of the International Day of Rural Women, themed “Rural Women Rising – Shaping Resilient Futures with Beijing+30,” Minister Mutsvangwa unveiled the Mudzimayi Wanhasi Empowerment Hub, a platform designed to provide digital skills training and access to online economic opportunities for women in rural communities.

“The Mudzimayi Wanhasi Empowerment Hub will equip rural women with digital literacy, e-commerce, and mobile banking skills, empowering them to grow their businesses, reach new markets, and participate more fully in the digital economy,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

The Hub, launched in partnership with the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and supported by the Embassy of France in Zimbabwe, marks a strategic shift toward integrating rural women into Zimbabwe’s growing fintech ecosystem.

Minister

Mutsvangwa highlighted that women make up 52% of Zimbabwe’s population, with over 80% living in rural areas, where they contribute nearly 70% of agricultural labour. Despite their critical role, many rural women remain excluded from the digital and financial systems that underpin modern economies.

“By embracing digital tools and innovation, we can strengthen women’s economic independence and ensure that no woman is left behind in this rapidly evolving digital era,” she said.

The Mudzimayi Wanhasi Hub will also serve as a conduit for climate-smart agriculture technologies, providing women farmers with digital access to weather updates, market information, and modern farming techniques. These tools are expected to enhance productivity, resilience, and income for women in agriculture—one of the most climate-vulnerable sectors in Zimbabwe.

The Minister also emphasized that access to finance remains a top priority, noting that her Ministry oversees several funding platforms aimed at women entrepreneurs, including:

• Women Development Fund (WDF)

• Zimbabwe Community Development Fund (ZCDF)

• Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB)

• Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO)

Digital integration with these credit facilities will enable women, even in remote areas, to access loans and grants through mobile platforms, thereby bridging the financial inclusion gap.

The event, attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps—including French Ambassador Paul Bertrand Barets and EU Ambassador Katrin Hagemann—and representatives from the UN and civil society, reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to the Beijing+30 Platform for Action and the African Union’s agenda for inclusive agri-food systems.

Minister Mutsvangwa urged rural women to take a leadership role in building climate resilience, promoting food security, and engaging in sustainable land management.

“When rural women thrive, families prosper, communities flourish, and the nation advances,” she declared.

The Mudzimayi Wanhasi Empowerment Hub represents more than just an innovation centre—it is a bold statement on Zimbabwe’s fintech future. By placing women at the heart of the digital transformation agenda, the initiative aligns with the country’s broader vision of leveraging technology for inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.

As the world marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration on women’s empowerment, Zimbabwe’s renewed commitment to bridging the gender digital divide offers a promising model for other African nations.