By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
KARIBA – Along the sun-drenched shores of Lake Kariba, something remarkable is stirring—not in the water, but in the hearts and hands of women who are changing the face of local enterprise.
Once known primarily for its tourist attractions and fishing industry, Kariba is now becoming a symbol of economic transformation, thanks to a wave of women entrepreneurs who are not only breaking traditional barriers but setting new standards for what’s possible.
One of these trailblazers is Mrs. Mationesa Kazangarare, whose vision has turned Kariba’s intense heat and clean water into a business opportunity.
“People were buying bottled water all the way from Manicaland,” she says with a smile. “But we have clean, abundant water right here. So, I thought, why not bottle it ourselves, create local jobs, and keep the money in Kariba?”
Today, her medium-scale bottling plant does just that—quenching thirsts while fueling economic empowerment.
Not far away, Chikomborero Jaiwa, a former teacher, is making waves in a different arena—tourism.
“Tourism here has long been controlled by big companies, mostly white-owned,” she reflects. “When I started my own venture, people doubted me—because I was black, and a woman. But that just made me work harder.”
Her business now draws both local and international visitors, and her story is inspiring others to believe in their potential, no matter their background.
Government leaders have taken notice of this quiet revolution.
During a recent visit, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, lauded the energy and innovation she witnessed.
“These women are not just starting businesses—they’re reshaping communities,” she said. “We are making sure they have access to affordable loans through Smedco, and the digital skills needed to grow beyond Kariba.”
Honourable Marian Chombo, Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution, echoed this support, emphasizing the need for sustainability alongside growth.
“With rising dam levels, there’s renewed hope in fishing,” she noted.
“But we must combine that with responsible practices and provide capital for modern fishing rigs. These women are key to the future of Kariba.”
From market stalls to manufacturing plants, Kariba’s women are not waiting for change—they are building it with their own hands.
Their stories are about more than profit. They are about pride, progress, and rewriting the economic legacy of a town long seen through the lens of male-dominated industries.
As their ventures grow, so does the hope that Kariba’s next generation—girls and boys alike—will see entrepreneurship not as a dream, but as a right.
And perhaps, years from now, it will be said that the turning point began here, with women who dared to believe in something more.
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