BUILDING BRIDGES TO GRASSROOTS

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BUILDING BRIDGES TO GRASSROOTS

• GRASSROOTS WOMENS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY (GWIA)
• Ms JUDITH SIBANDA- ZIMBABWE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
  ASSOCIATION (ZWICA) NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON.
• Women
• The true champions/cornerstones of urban shelter
  delivery in Southern Africa

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INTRODUCTION

• Focus on the community of Women In Construction
  (WIC) in Zimbabwe.
• Women Institutions lobbying Local Authorities and
  Parliament in Zimbabwe.
• Built bridges with the grassroots.

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VISION

• Leading womens entity which is dynamic and is a
  leader in providing quality services in the
  construction sector to both public and private
  sectors nationally and across the globe.

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MISSION

• Promote participation of women involved in the
  construction business sharing of ideas, sourcing
  raw materials marketing of products services.

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VALUES

• Unity and good behaviour
• Fairness and justice-both to customers and
  members
• Responsibility of duties
• Quality-in respect to service and products and
  the type of leadership
• Productivity-to be a member one has to be
  productive or engaged in some construction
  related business.

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MEMBERSHIP/COMMITTEES

• Executive Committee- responsible for the general
  operations of the Association.
• President, Mrs. Elizabeth Chakudunga, P O Box
  42, Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Cell 011 731566.
• Chairperson, Ms. Judith Sibanda, No. 11 Tregene
  Flats, 8th Ave/S.Parirenyatwa, Bulawayo,
  Zimbabwe. Telephone ( 263 4) 09 479700.

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TRAINING

• Technical, Business, Roles Responsibilities and
  Gender Mainstreaming.
• Boosted the groups confidence in their
  businesses. Five enterprises now operate as
  formal business.
• Secured business stands-greatly assisted in
  marketing.
• Two enterprises registered as companies under the
  Registrar of Companies.

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LINKS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

• Small Enterprise Development Cooperation (SEDCO)
  assessed readiness of financial support.
• Majority of the enterprises qualified for
  lending.
• Informality militated against the groups that got
  unfavourable assessment.
• Last week SEDCO approved a ZWD30m (USD5 500)
  loan by Sebbame.

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MARKETING AND PUBLICITY

• Brochures for enterprises, ZWICA
• Enterprises exhibited networked with finance
  providers, suppliers of raw materials, clients,
  and government departments at SME Expo

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LOBBYING AND ADVOCACY

• Members of ZWICA with the Honourable Speaker of
  Parliament of Zimbabwe Dr Emmerson Munangagwa
  during the pre budget processes.

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DEMONSTRATION OF TECHNOLOGIES

• RUTASHI enterprises held a demonstration for
  Chitungwiza councillors sensitising the local
  authority to provide opportunities for women in
  construction.
• Consequently RUTASHI and Vimbayi secured orders
  to supply Chitungwiza municipality with building
  materials worth over Z10 million (US 1923.00).
• Demonstrating the technologies gave potential
  clients more information to make a decision about
  more cost effective technologies. Pictured above
  are members of RUTASHI and Councillors from
  Chitungwiza

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TRAINING ADVISORY SUPPORT

• On site technical business training and
  advisory support for women
• Gender Mainstreaming Trainings
• Women Empowerment/Roles and Responsibilities
  Trainings
• Training ZWICA in networking

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CONNECTIONS

• Networking- useful in enhancing skills that
  assist enterprises in resolving business
  problems.
• WIPCO enterprise was initially very passive-
  after a few networking seminars, started
  championing publicity activities and got an
  article in The Sunday Mail. In addition, their
  chairperson was the first among the ZWICA to have
  an opportunity to talk to the President of the
  Republic of Zimbabwe about their business at a
  function co-hosted by Women in Business.
• Networking -extended to government departments
  and local authorities to create a conducive and
  favourable policy lobbying environment.

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SUSTAINABILITY

• Project activities link up with those of local
  authorities and vice versa. The project has
  continued to strengthen relationships between
  groups and local authorities in all project
  sites.
• Chitungwiza, Rusape and Norton local authorities
  have continued to offer business stands and pits
  (for subsoil used in brick moulding) to the
  enterprises.
• All local authorities, with the exception of
  Marondera Town Municipality, were represented at
  the launch of ZWICA.
• This partnership will ensure sustainability for
  the project beyond the project cycle.
• Strengthened marketing and quality control
  systems of all enterprise