Following the successful hosting of the Global Summit and Women Changing the World Awards on May 25 in London, United Kingdom, it was glitz and glamour at the Zimbabwe edition of the global awards held in Harare last week with various speakers saluting the initiative for celebrating the great milestones by female changemakers who for long have borne the brunt of patriarchy and other societal and cultural limitations.
In an auditorium beaming with over 100 female time punchers drawn from various sectors of the economy, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium and Enterprises Development minister Monica Mutsvangwa thanked the organisers for bringing the global showcase to Zimbabwe and highlighted that the initiative dovetails with ongoing women emancipation initiatives.
“My ministry working in tandem with ongoing government policies designed to celebrate ad empower women as promulgated by the head of state and government President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa gladly welcomes these celebrations to Zimbabwe,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Women are champions of success and they hold families and communities together as seen by the various female luminaries that we are celebrating today.
“I am, thus, elated that you have taken this important step to bring these celebrations closer to home so that we can better inspire innovation while celebrating our achievers and change makers the best way we can.”
Event host Tererai Trent of Tererai Trent International (TTI), who also brought with her a high-powered delegation of Europe-wide women champions led by co-host and TTI board chairperson Peace Mitchell saluted their local partners — Empowered Women —led by founder and Women Changing the World Social Enterprise award winner Sibonokuhle Buhlungu for putting together a classy and sold-out event in record time and highlighted that women working together in unity can achieve a lot.
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“There is no limit to what we can achieve when we work together as women and I am humbled by the show of unity and numbers that have come to be part of this groundbreaking edition of Women Changing the World Awards Dinner in Zimbabwe,” Trent said.
“I am greatly honoured to have in our midst the Honourable minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa together with other luminaries like businesswoman Dr Divine Ndhlukula and it is my hope that we continue on this path as we roll out other life-changing initiatives here in Zimbabwe courtesy of our organisation Tererai Trent International.”
The philanthropist also shared a moving account of her life story.
“Its so easy to assume that whatever achievements I am celebrated were attained overnight but the truth is that I had to fight the shackles of poverty, patriarchy and being born in a generally limiting environment,” she said.
Mitchell shared on the amazing networking opportunity that the awards event brought.
“The Women Changing the World Zimbabwe Awards Dinner event is dedicated to celebrating and empowering women changemakers like yourself, and we are honoured by all the great women here,” she said.
“The dinner is a unique opportunity to connect with an influential network of women from across the country and world at large.
“Our goal is to help you escalate the growth of your organisations and emerge as a leader in your industry.
“We want you to leave this event with lasting friendships, inspiration, and motivation.
“The connections you make and the experiences you encounter will open up exciting opportunities and fuel your journey.”
Ndhlukula also took the opportunity to spur the delegates towards self-actualization against all odds.
Buhlungu saluted the efforts of women who have continued to join hands in alleviating the suffering of marginalised women across Zimbabwe.
The recently named Africa Women Summit Zimbabwe president said all hope was not lost as long as women join hands for common good.
Other award winners on the night included Rosemary Nyachowe who got the Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the year, Thelma Chimbganda, who won Microbusiness of the Year, Cynthia Tapera Jera, who won Woman in Agriculture and Patricia Gonde who won Woman Changing the World Award of the Year among others.
During the same event, a book which was co-authored by Mitchell, Florence Kayungwa, Heather MacCathy, Gonde and Iris Zemza Nozizwe Mhlanga was also launched.