Armed with nothing but her zeal and passion for the socio-economic advancement of women, Zimbiti, 63, said her journey had taught her that Zimbabwean women were a determined and resilient breed, whom if nurtured had the potential to conquer the world.
Recently honoured at an awards ceremony organised by the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and Women’s Alliance of Business Associations in Zimbabwe, Zimbiti believes that the women of this country have the potential to ‘chart their own future regardless of their circumstances’.
“Since time immemorial, women have borne the brunt of poverty, but it is their perseverance that has taught me that they are destined for greater heights,” said Zimbiti.
Honoured as the ‘Most Outstanding Woman Supporting Women in Enterprise’, Zimbiti said her passion was inspired by her experiences growing up in the 1970’s.
“The husbands would go to the townships and work while the mothers toiled on the land,” she said. “The main challenge was that everything that you worked for belonged to the husband and because there were (and still are) irresponsible fathers, women bore the brunt of poverty as they fended for the kids despite having nothing to their name.”
Pioneer
Hailing from Epworth, Harare, a town viewed by many as very poor, Zimbiti defied all odds and became one of the black pioneers of the Savings Management Projects run by the Methodist Church.
Introduced to the late Jesuit brother Francis Waddilove, the pioneer of the savings project, Zimbiti was roped into the programme when she impressed him through her work as a volunteer during the initial stages of the project.
She joined him to work with the Self Help Development Foundation , a non governmental organisation working with grassroots women throughout Zimbabwe towards poverty eradication.
Starting with initiatives in rural Chihota, where she mobilised women to venture into savings clubs in small groups of 10, Zimbiti trained women in self-help and economic empowerment programmes as a savings club mobiliser. Although she only had basic education and had no training in any clerical or accounting work, Zimbiti excelled and became one of the savings management projects officers within the next four years.
This marked the beginning of her journey as she realised that the marginalisation of women in society and violation of their rights was an anathema for their economic emancipation.
“They had to start somewhere and they had no option but to start their own savings projects,” she said, adding that she had taught and worked with women across Zimbabwe.
Health challenges
Although she is now bound by health challenges and is now walking on crutches, Zimbiti said women from her community still seek her advice on how to establish and maintain sustainable savings clubs.
"I cannot go to them as much as I used to because I have problems with my legs and I am not mobile. But those that come for advice here at my house get it for free. I feel I have an obligation to empower women," said Zimbiti.
She said because grassroots women need support, it was important for those with the expertise to share their knowledge with them for 'minimal or no cost at all'.
"My humble beginnings motivated me to forge ahead and develop myself as a starting point to ensure that I am better qualified to help others,” she said.
Courage
She said because in the 70's women were tasked with raising the families when their husbands went to the cities to look for employment, she realised that there were times when those benefits did not translate to the economic benefits that are expected by the family that resided in the rural area.
The exposure that Zimbiti got while working within various communities gave her the courage to face any situation regarding the empowerment of women from grassroots communities.
“The aim was to promote self-reliance among the club members through the establishment and running of self-help schemes and equip the women with the necessary skills to manage their savings clubs finances,” she said.
A board member at SHDF, Zimbiti has been actively involved in bee keeping, gardening and sewing projects among a host of other income generating activities and she has single-handedly changed the economic fortunes of a host of rural women by encouraging them to take charge of their economic fortunes.
“Women’s economic equality depends on their willingness to challenge their circumstances,” said Zimbiti. “The women should take the initiative and walk the talk towards their economic emancipation,” she added. She is inspired by the late South African president Nelson Mandela’s statement that freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.
Post published in: News