Celebration of Africa Day Brings Local Women informal Traders Together.
Female vendors and traders in Zimbabwe recently gathered to celebrate Africa Day, organized by the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) Women’s Council.
Moreover, the aim of the event was to create a safe and enjoyable space for women to celebrate their African heritage, network with peers, and share experiences.
BVTA President, Jacqueline Ndlovu, stressed the importance of empowering women traders due to the many challenges they face, including unpaid caregiving and discrimination.
Female Traders Challenges
“Female traders face several challenges, including unpaid care work and discrimination. It’s crucial to provide them with a space to go out and have fun as women, while retaining our cultural values,” said Ndlovu.
The event brought together traders from diverse backgrounds and provided an opportunity for them to share experiences and learn from each other.
Embracing Traditions
Additionally, the event was well-received, with over 50 participants enjoying traditional food, music, and dancing.
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According to Ndlovu, the empowerment of women traders is crucial to the growth of the local economy and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods.
Empowering women
She stated, “When you empower women, you empower families and the whole community. This is why we are investing in young people who will drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the future.”
Despite these challenges, female traders remain optimistic about the future, calling for greater support from the government and city authorities to create safe and inclusive trading spaces.
Safe & Inclusive Spaces
“We want to see more support from the government and city authorities to create safe and inclusive spaces for us to trade in,” said Ndlovu. “But we are also taking matters into our own hands and building a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.”
BVTA Membership Support, Debrah Mukasa, acknowledged the important role that BVTA Women’s Council plays in guiding vendors and ensure their safety.
“BVTA Women’s Council guides how we work as vendors, how we operate and provide safety for vendors and traders,” said Mukasa.
Valuing Heritage
Mukasa also said that Celebration of Africa Day was important as it reminded us to value our culture and traditional food.
BVTA has been working to support local informal traders for years, providing capacity building workshops, advocacy, and access to financing through their revolving fund.
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