Bulawayo Arts Centre Commissioning: Gender-Inclusive Milestone

Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Winston Chitando has praised the commissioning of Bulawayo City Arts and Crafts Centre as a step towards making Zimbabwe an upper middle-income economy.

He underscored the importance of supporting local economic development enterprises and encouraged local authorities to prioritise goods and services from women and youths.

“This project is a process towards making Zimbabwe an upper middle-income economy and that process is irreversible. It’s going to happen and it’s happening,” Chitando remarked.

Gender Inclusive

He also highlighted the components of the Gender Inclusive Local Economic Development program, which include horticulture, infrastructure, van houses, and mushroom houses.

Chitando stressed the importance of economic development as a continuous process, stating, “Economic development is not an event, economic development is a constitution.”

He urged local authorities to prioritise supporting businesses owned by women and youths, emphasising the need for continued focus on service delivery towards achieving the vision for 2030.

The Centre was recently commissioned, showcasing the result of a collaboration between the Swedish Embassy and the Bulawayo City Council.

The renovation of the building was made possible through a donation of US$22,934 from the Swedish Embassy, with a total investment of US$78,624.

Improvements to the Building

Bulawayo Mayor, David Coltart highlighted the improvements made to the building, which included electrical work, replacement of doors and window frames, installation of new fittings, and construction of a concrete apron.

He also emphasised the involvement of women, men, and youths in the project, with 50 percent of the participants being women, 20 percent men, and 30 percent youths.

Overall, the commissioning of the Bulawayo City Arts & Crafts Centre highlighted the commitment of the Swedish Embassy, Bulawayo City Council, and local authorities to promoting gender-inclusive economic development. The project serves as a concrete step towards creating sustainable economic opportunities for all members of the community.