Low uptake of Women’s Bank loans bemoaned

By Elvis Dumba

Zvimba – Women have been urged to effectively participate in the financial sector as few of them are taking up finance opportunities created by the government.

Bemoaning the low number of loan applications through Women Bank in Zvimba District, Nyarai Chasi, ZANU (PF) Mashonaland West Provincial Executive member said women are not taking up opportunities created for them and gave Zvimba district as an example.

“It’s unfortunate that many women are not taking up the advantages of opportunities created for them. It is saddening that in the whole of Zvimba District, only 1800 women bothered to open bank accounts with the Women Bank and only 73 females successfully applied for loans yet we are on the frontline as women complaining that we are not being afforded financial support. Here is an opportunity for business financing through the Women Bank but few women are taking up the offer,” she said during a ZANU PF inter-district meeting for Zvimba East and North Constituencies.

Chasi said women should not lag behind in economic development.

“Let us embrace various women initiatives created by our President Emmerson Mnangagwa by fully participating in them instead of just complaining that women are being sidelined. These programs are being created to empower us. Let us not be cry babies. Let us work and contribute to governments efforts to achieve a middle-income economy by 2030” she said.

Zvimba Constituency has got the highest number of loan applications by women through the Women Bank whilst Zvimba South Constituency has the lowest number.