Women entrepreneurs are the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economic growth, yet systemic barriers like limited access to finance, markets, networks, and skills have long held them back. WEDO (Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization) is changing that narrative through strategic partnerships that equip women with practical training in agribusiness and entrepreneurship, unlocking pathways to financial independence and sustainable business growth.
At the heart of WEDO’s Zimbabwe initiative is a commitment to transforming how women engage with agriculture. Rather than treating farming as subsistence-level production, WEDO is training women to think like agribusiness entrepreneurs, to add value, capture markets, and build profitable enterprises. WEDO Ambassador Angeline Zimbwani Mikiri launched the flagship “From Harvest to Prosperity” Tomato, Chili & Agro-Transformation Entrepreneurship Program, targeting 1,000 women and youth by the end of 2026. This initiative goes beyond traditional farming. It teaches women to transform raw agricultural products into higher-value goods, processing tomatoes and chilies, understanding supply chains, identifying buyer markets, and scaling production from household gardens to commercial operations.
The results are tangible and growing. Over 150 entrepreneurs have completed hands-on training and certification at Masvingo Polytechnic, with 300 more women set to participate in advanced agribusiness training scheduled for October. These aren’t abstract lessons. Women are learning practical skills in crop selection, production techniques, post-harvest handling, value-addition, and market access. WEDO’s training approach combines multiple entrepreneurial pathways alongside the agribusiness focus, including soap-making and small business development, complementary skills that diversify income streams and build resilience.
Local finance institution Homelink has invested heavily in women-led enterprises across soap making, manufacturing, and construction sectors. Their experience demonstrates a critical insight: when women receive proper training in agribusiness and entrepreneurship, they become reliable business partners with strong repayment discipline and community impact. Agriculture remains Zimbabwe’s largest sector, yet women have historically been locked into subsistence-level farming with minimal control over prices, markets, or profits. Agribusiness training changes this dynamic. When women learn to process, package, brand, and market agricultural products, they capture significantly higher margins. A woman growing tomatoes earns pennies; a woman transforming tomatoes into paste, sauce, or dried products captures dollars.
The economic multiplier effects are profound. Zimbabwe’s tourism expert Dr. Phanos Matura emphasized how agricultural entrepreneurship, particularly in agro-tourism and eco-farming, can drive regional economic development. Women who build agribusiness enterprises create jobs, stabilize local food systems, and attract investment to rural communities. When women earn independent income through agribusiness, their families benefit immediately. Women-led agricultural enterprises generate measurable improvements in nutrition, healthcare access, and children’s education. Women reinvest profits in their communities, breaking poverty cycles that span generations.
As Benonia Machavuda, WEDO Provincial Ambassador, stated: “Women entrepreneurs contribute to socio-economic development through driving economic growth and job creation.” Yet these entrepreneurs face real barriers. WEDO responds through systematic support through resources, training, and mentorship to help them overcome challenges and succeed. Women’s Entrepreneurship Day celebrations in Masvingo, held under the theme “Accelerate Progress for Social Economic Development,” underscore WEDO’s broader vision.
When women gain access to agribusiness education, technology, markets, and mentorship, they don’t just improve their own lives. They transform their families and communities. In Masvingo and across Zimbabwe, WEDO is proving that women farmers aren’t looking for help. They’re looking for an opportunity. Through strategic partnerships with Masvingo Polytechnic and organizations like Homelink, WEDO is providing the training, resources, and networks that convert agricultural potential into thriving enterprises. The result is women entrepreneurs building prosperity, creating jobs, and reshaping Zimbabwe’s economic future, one tomato, one chili, one successful business at a time.
Thank you to the WEDO Zimbabwe for supporting women’s entrepreneurship throughout the country. WEDO is proud to stand alongside a team that understands investing in women is investing in a stronger, more prosperous future for all.
Learn more about this initiative:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DangDsdMnMg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.masvingomirror.com/wedo-commits-continued-support-to-women-entrepreneurs/
https://www.gztimes.co.zw/2019/03/women-entrepreneurship-day-zimbabwe-to.html
WEDO – Women Entrepreneurs Do Make A Difference – #JoinWEDO – www.joinwedo.org