Govt. committed to empowering vulnerable women

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Govt. committed to empowering vulnerable women

 

Monze, February 27, 2015, ZANIS… Government says it will continue to empower vulnerable women in a bid to reduce poverty and restore their dignity.

 

Speaking during the disbursement of the village bank loans totaling K75,000.00 to 87  beneficiaries  today, Monze District Commissioner Biggie Mwiinde said it was government’s desire to  reduce poverty especially among women in the country.

 

Mr. Mwiinde said government through the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health will not relent to support initiatives such as providing loans disbursed through the village bank aimed at empowering women in the country to earn a decent living through various income generating activities.

 

“As government we do not want to continue seeing our mothers begging on the streets or engaging themselves in illicit activities in order to make a living and as such government will continue to roll out such initiatives throughout the country to ensure that women are empowered to earn decent living through various income generating activities,” said Mr. Mwiinde.

 

Mr. Mwiinde advised the women to make good use of the loans and invest in viable income generating activities.

 

He also reminded the beneficiaries that the  money was not for free but a loan meaning that they have to invest an in a profitable venture to be able to pay back.

 

“ I want to remind you that this is loan you should put to good use to invest in a viable and profitable business so that you will be able to pay back these loans,” said Mr. Mwiinde.

 

“ I am reliably informed that you are expected to pay back within 25 weeks. Therefore, I want to assure you that I will personally monitor your performance because effectiveness of this project is largely dependent on you,” he added.

 

And Monze District Community Development Officer Felistus Mubukwanu said the selection of beneficiaries was meticulously done after which the selected women in three areas of the district including Monze East, Monze West and Mutebe underwent training on entrepreneurship.

 

She also comforted those who were not selected not to despair as the projects had just been established adding that more women will benefit from the project.

 

“ I want to say to those who have not been selected that we should not feel bad because we have just started this project here in Monze and we hope we shall have more women benefiting in the near future,” said Ms Mubukwanu.

 

She further said the beneficiaries have received loans ranging from K200 to K1000 adding that they are expected to pay an interest rate of 20 per cent of the loans within six months.

 

In a vote of thanks Ms Naomi Ndhovu thanked the government for the projects which she noted will reduce poverty among women in Monze District.

 

The concept of village bank was mooted and designed to empower vulnerable women to get loans in order to improve their livelihood through entrepreneurship activities and so far the project is being implemented in Mazabuka, Livingstone, Choma, Kazungula and now Monze District.

 

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