Single mothers urged to embark on income generating projects.

Admore Mbonda in Kariba

Single mothers have been urged to undertake income generating activities to improve their economic status.

The call was made by Single Mothers for Economic Development, provincial chairperson for Mashonaland West, Martha Tafirenyika Munondo, last week Friday, in Kariba.

"As single mothers, you should be hard workers. Start income generating projects in your areas and be the masters of your own destiny, she said.

" We don`t want lazy single mothers, we want hard workers and single mothers who are able to fend for their families.

"We appreciate what some of you have so far achieved, but you need to access funds in banks and other financial institutions, to enable you to carry out income generation projects."

Responding to the women`s concern over lack of capital and training, Munondo told the. women that the government has guaranteed them funds, that will come as loans.

"We face challenges of lack of funds to finance our projects. We therefore appeal for training and for funds to finance our developmental projects," one single mother identified as Nyasha said.

Yolanda Chanaiwa, who is in charge of logistics in the Single Mothers for Economic Development, said that single mothers should educate their children on the effects of drugs and substance abuse.

"As single mothers, it is our duty to make sure that we educate our children on drugs. Drugs are killing our communities whilst we watch and this is not good at all,” said Chanaiwa.

" We should also encourage our children to register to vote, because their vote is their right.”

“There are Government structures in every community which can offer technical assistance to all people who need help. If single mothers can get sufficient support, they can be cornerstones of their households. The saying “Mushamukadzi” is an apt description of women who are organized, they will be enterprising and productive. I am confident that all single mothers will not fail if given enough support in their projects.

The Single Mothers for Economic Development is an organization that was recently launched in Mashonaland West Province and it seeks to empower women, who are heads of families, through engaging them in various training programs and access to finance, for projects.

Membership to the organization is open to any single mother, irrespective of political affiliation.