Mumprenuers business forum launched

Zim Now Writer

Over 100 women gathered in Harare this Saturday to launch Mumprenuers, an organisation that provides a platform for women to harness their resources and skills to propel each other upwards.

“The vision is for Mumprenuers to be a big platform where women can access to mentorship, markets and capital,” said Mrs Leah Mugari of Asher Fashions, one of the pioneers of Mumprenuers.

The name of the organisation comes as a recognition of the multiple roles that women play as they seek to become empowered entrepreneurs.

Mumprenuers is an initiative founded under the Zimbabwe Business ideas and Network. ZBIN is a registered organisation that empower entrepreneurs with skills, mentorship and other grooming opportunities.

“Financial literacy is important because you need to know how to manage your money, how to access services like banking and loans and how to budget your money through analysing what you make and how you spend it,” said Ms Loreen Kamwanza of ZB Bank.

She said that Zimbabwe as a country has taken a pro-inclusion policy with focus on gender equity and that financial institutions are now required to state what percentage of their loans have been accessed by women when reporting to the Reserve Bank.

Ms Kamwanza also challenged women to be empowered by knowing what is going in the world around them. She said her bank is very flexible when it comes to offering loans to previously disadvantaged demographics like women.

Lillian Paraffin, presented saving and capital access products within Mumprenuers which are packed into three categories namely roundtable savings, grocery savings and business showers.

To tighten loopholes of theft by untrustworthy members, Mumprenuers requires prospective club members to pay a commitment fee which is channelled into a legal fund that pays a lawyer for legal representation.

The several presenters all centred on the different aspects of ensuring financial freedom through entrepreneurship. Branding, e-commerce, multiple revenues, recognising and exploiting opportunities, rising from falls, leadership and management skills as well as growth in business were some of the areas that the presenters touched on.

Topics presented on included "Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Registration and Opportunities by Chrystabel Mushonga, The Art of Street Selling by Modester Mupfiga, How to open and run a boutique by Gwenn Chimuti, Buying and Shipping from China tips by Luwy Kay Kusemwa, Hustles You Can Start With Very Little by Auntie Thandie, Unlocking opportunities through Digital Marketing by Monica Cheru, Arts and Crafts Opportunities by Aunt Mazvita and Cruise ship Job Opportunities by Sharon Zhonge.

The event was superbly directed by Gwendolyn Chikofi and Dr Rosemary Musara, “mumpreneurs” in their own right, who kept it lively and participatory.

“Mumprenuers has grown into the most vibrant asset of ZBIN. This Harare launch is just the first and we hope to soon spread to other parts of the country,” said ZBIN founder Victor Muchemwa.

Muchemwa said he was gratified by the full house that turned up for the launch as it shows he trust and faith ZBIN has established over the years.