Lillian Nyamasoka nominated for international awar...

Lillian Nyamasoka nominated for international award

Munyaradzi Doma

Shawasha Group Regional Managing Director Lillian Nyamasoka has been nominated for the 2023 Women Changing the World Awards.

Nyamasoka whose companies ShawashAgri based in Zimbabwe and AgroShawasha based in Mozambique and are into cotton contract farming, was nominated in four categories, Women Changing the World in Rural and Regional Areas Impact Award, Women Changing the World in Agriculture and Farming, Women Changing the World Social Enterprise and Women Changing the World Sustainability.

The Shawasha Group boss who was last year awarded the Outstanding and Game Changing Agriculture Executive at the Vital Concept Agro Summit said this latest nomination is just the best, as it is an international recognition.

“It is unbelievable, I still feel emotional as it’s one of the best things that has ever happened to me and to us as a team.
“It’s wonderful to receive not just recognition, but international recognition for the work that is being done and in this case, something where risk is a part in order to do it.
“I feel people have now listened to my story about enabling women for sustainability and looked at the business and believed that it is something good.
“It started with an idea, a passion and a frustration with the small scale cotton contract farming industry which led to me wanting to do it better, make some changes and have resilient farmers who look forward to every season,” said Nyamasoka.

Shawasha works with women in communities in communal areas where the company is under the model of contract farming which boasts of enabling women for sustainability.

And in their cause, they also consider youths and households.

The company started in 2009 by supporting sesame as a contract farming method before it grew to participate in cotton.

To date they have more than two products which are sesame, maize and soya beans.

The Women Changing the World Awards which are a brainchild of Dr Tererai Trent a Zimbabwean-American educator, celebrate and recognize women achieving outstanding success in areas such as sustainability, humanitarian work, leadership, advocacy, tech, product development, education, health and innovation.

The awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who are leading the way in making the world a better place for all and inspire women to answer the call to take action.

It is said Dr Trent’s powerful call to action through these awards aims to awaken hearts, give permission to recapture dreams and inspire the women of the world to come together to forge a brighter path for all.

The winners of the 2023 Women Changing the World Awards will be announced at an event in London, United Kingdom on April 18 this year.