THE Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) has embarked on a project geared towards improving livelihoods of wives of AFZ personnel.
The initiative is the brainchild of Mrs Shelta Masakadza, who is the wife of Manyame Air Base commander, Air Commodore Elisha Masakadza.
The women, peace and security initiative seeks to bring together women and promote ideas to help economically empower them while fostering unity.
Speaking at the recent launch of the programme, Mrs Masakadza said: “Women should always challenge gender-based violence through empowerment.
“That way, they can emancipate themselves from dependence on their spouses for survival and their day-to-day needs.”
Manyame Air Base gender representative group captain Memory Mashavave said: “The AFZ has achieved gender balance through promotion of women to senior ranks, up to air commodore, a rank equivalent to army generals.
“Women are in the command element and decision-making processes in the organisation, which shows gender equality has taken centre stage in the AFZ.
“This programme has also included wives of soldiers, who are not being left behind since we want to empower them economically by giving them life skills and secure for them partners who can give them business loans.
“The AFZ is able to send women on peacekeeping missions because there are quite a number of them performing exceptionally well.”
Women who attended the programme lauded Mrs Masakadza for encouraging women to start small businesses and engage in farming. The programme was supported by corporates that include Mukuru, Be Forward and Doves. – Sunday Mail
