The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
ZIMBABWEAN women horticulturalists and their Namibian counterparts are set to benefit from the pact on how to unlock market for their fresh produce between the two countries.
A delegation from Namibian Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare which visited Manicaland last week in line with a memorandum of understanding signed in 2017 with their Zimbabwean counterparts on co-operation in women empowerment, gender equal.
The agreement covers the issue of trade and proposes that women should take comparative advantage of the two republics. Namibian official Ms Eline Nghiitwikwa said the MOU was aimed at boosting trade and unlocking markets of cash crops produced by two republics.
“We have visited Manicaland province and we are impressed by what women in horticulture are doing. Since we have signed the MOU, I think we need exchange visits so that women from both countries learn from one another.
“On our visit here, we have learnt that there are other things produced by Zimbabwean women which are not being produced in Namibian. We hope to take this on board and notify our line ministries of agriculture and economic ministries on how we can empower each other.
“We hope to see our women coming here to buy the produce and sell them in Namibia. We also anticipate women in Zimbabwe to do the same,” she said.
Principal director in Ministry of Youths and Women Affairs Mr Irvin Duma said the purpose of visit by Namibian delegation was to find out our readiness in exporting fresh produce.
“Women in Zimbabwe are heavily involved in agriculture and we have identified this as one of the quick wins in terms of pushing for its implementation. We have identified the Zimbabwean farmers who are into horticulture to push for some of the produces to be exported in Namibia.
“In this MOU we are anticipating Namibian women to buy our produce and sell them in Namibia. The delegation came to ascertain if we have fresh produce ready export to Namibia markets,” he said.
Apart from Chipinge, the delegation also visited Mutasa and Nyanga districts.
