Women Entrepreneurship Challenges And Prospects For The Future. A Case Of Harare

Authors: Yeukayi Dzapasi, Tawanda Laston Makombe, Witness Ukama

Abstract: Women entrepreneurship has been hailed for its importance in the socio-economic development of societies. However, the success of women entrepreneurship is still very low as compared to their male counterparts. Hence the study sought to investigate the challenges and prospects of women entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe so as to find out how best women entrepreneurship can be perpetuated in the country. The research employed a survey of registered women businesses in Harare. Data was collected from the women entrepreneurs using self-administered questionnaires. It was then analysed using mean, scores, percentages and standard deviations. Findings from the study indicated that women entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe is mainly hindered by lack of access to financial resources, shortage of raw materials, inadequate education, poor infrastructure, persistent inflation and shortage of foreign currency, gender discrimination, family commitments, and lack of government support. It however revealed that opportunities for enhanced entrepreneurship in the country include rapid advances in ICT, increased regional economic integration, increased support from developmental organisations and higher education among women in Zimbabwe. Hence the research recommended useful policies to undermine the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities in order to improve women entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe.

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