Harare - United States Ambassador Charles Ray says women play a leading role in generating new wealth and their empowerment must be less about running poultry or sewing projects, and more about clearing away the obstacles that exclude women from opportunity. Empowering women to create new wealth requires a solid foundation that rests on educational opportunities, sound government policies, and access to financial resources, said Ambassador Ray during a public lecture at the Womens University in Africa (WUA) on Wednesday.
The event was held to commemorate Womens History Month, celebrated each March in the United States, and was attended by students and representatives from business and civil society organizations.
Here in Zimbabwe, talk about empowerment too often focuses only on the control of wealth. And, all too often, that becomes an argument over who should own what already exists rather than the far more important effort to make it possible for Zimbabweans to create something new, said the U.S. Ambassador, who hailed the efforts of the founders of the Womens University in Africa, Professor Hope Sadza and Dr. Fay Chung.
Ambassador Ray said empowerment should be about what you contribute adding, it is ensuring ownership, capacity building, management, and control of diverse spheres of the economy, including manufacturing, insurance, construction, and transportation. Tapping into existing expertise in these fields, harnessing talent, and forming structures that can lobby and access capital are the best ways to create greater participation in the economy. The U.S. diplomat is a fervent supporter of womens rights and empowerment, and is also an author of a book entitled, Leadership Lessons from My Grandmother.
Mara Hativagone, deputy chairperson of the WUA board of Trustees, said the visit by the Ambassador is part of the empowerment process started by the founders of the university. She called for more efforts to be channeled towards empowering rural women.
Women form 51 percent of the population and 47 percent of that number is in the rural areas. As a developing country we need to see more development in the rural areas, said Hativagone.
The Womens University in Africa is a private institution established in 2002. It is the brainchild of two visionary women, Dr. Fay King Chung, a former minister of education and culture in Zimbabwe, and Dr. Hope Sadza, a retired Public Service Commissioner and the current WUA Vice Chancellor. The U.S. Embassy has supported staff development at the institution through Fulbright scholarships for the universitys academic staff to support gender equity and foster equality in university education. ZimPAS 2011
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Note. Ambassador Rays full remarks are available at http://harare.usembassy.gov
ZimPAS is a product of the United States Embassy Public Affairs Section. Queries and comments should be directed to Sharon Hudson Dean, Public Affairs Officer, hararepas@state.gov Website: http://harare.usembassy.gov
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