PATRICIA MOYO
The European Union (EU) in partnership with Welt Hunger Hilfe and Empretec held a mini simposium for Micro Small to Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at Hall 2, Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on Wednesday commemorating the International day of MSMEs.
The guest of honour was the Minister of Women Affairs, Small to Medium Enterprises Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni.
The commemoration was held under the theme:
“Galvanizing MSMEs Worldwide by supporting Women and Youth Entrepreneurship and Resilient supply chains”
On display by several MSMEs were various goods ranging from traditional food stuff, cereals, tergents, hand made clothes, craft, building material and many other products.
The guest of honour, Minister of Women Affairs, Community and MSMEs Development Dr. Sithembiso G. Nyoni toured the mini stands and was impressed with some of the products on display. She promised exhibitors that she will buy some of their products.
The Minister surprised traditional jewel crafters as she told them to desist from making such craft and begin making ‘real’ jewellery made of gold since Zimbabwe was endowed with many gold mines.
She said gold jewelry can fetch them more money if exported to such countries as China or India.
Minister Nyoni said bead craft “would get out if fashion”.
Dr. Sithembiso G.G Nyoni said,
“If you just keep on doing beads you will get out of fashion. I would like you Empretec to move women from ordinary bead works because in Matabeleland and throughout the country we mine gold. I will like to see you push training for them to do proper jewellery that they can send to India, China and everywhere.”
However, if locals were to abandon this trade they will lose their culture and identity.
Beads and craft is found around the country and places like Matopo National Park has several of people who trade in such craft. The hub of tourism in Zimbabwe, the Victoria Falls is a market place of traditional craft makers, and at the Bulawayo City Hall, there are beads and craft makers selling their wares for a living.
Such traditional jewelry is a target for tourists and of late those locals who have decided to revisit their roots have begun to don traditionally crafted jewellery.
One of the women who was in attendance responded to the Minister’s suggestion saying,
“The Minister is could be correct, but her suggestion is misplaced. She should have said we must mix our craft with gold so that it fetches hire prices and a wider market. Anywhere where am i to get gold to make the suggested jewellery?”
She refused with her identity.
While the day of the commemorations proceeded well, there were some exhibition stands that were empty lacking takers.
Zim GBC News©2023