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The Financial Opportunities of COVID 19 In Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Harare Women Entrepreneurs
Shepard Makurumidze, Tongesai Mpofu
Pages - 51 - 72     |    Revised - 01-03-2021     |    Published - 01-04-2021
Volume - 0   Issue - 0    |    Publication Date -   Table of Contents
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KEYWORDS
COVID 19, Women Entrepreneurs, Women SMEs, Financial Opportunities, Digital Financial Ecosystem, Business to Business Commerce, Financial Inclusion Strategy.
ABSTRACT
Women’s entrepreneurship can be a catalyst for change in their economic role in Zimbabwe. The study sought to assess the financial opportunities brought about by COVID 19 for women entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe. This however required a coordinated multi-stakeholder approach, across a number of dimensions, including government policy, funding and investments, and formal and informal mentorship. Despite the economic and social setbacks impacting women entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe, they have responded rapidly were upbeat about surviving through this crisis. A pragmatic approach was used and the instruments used in the investigation included questionnaires and documentary analysis guide. The target population 261000 of women entrepreneurs in Harare, Zimbabwe was used using 2020 records from the Ministry of Woman affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED). A non-probability sampling technique was used for this study because it is quicker, easier and cheaper. A judgmental sampling techniques was administered on 385 sampling units generated by the Raosoft sample size calculator. Regression, correlation analysis was conducted to analyse the investigation results using SPSS version 20. The investigation found that although COVID 19 had a universal negative impact on jobs and incomes has led to greater familial and societal acceptance of women working formally, thus delivering financial support to their families. Covid-19 has pushed the broader ecosystem to rapidly adopt digital means to conduct business. Suppliers, customers and employees have adopted remote models, transactions have moved online; and as Business to Business (B2B) commerce has scaled up, entrepreneurship has become more accessible to women. Key imperatives are however required for women entrepreneurs to harness these opportunities. Governments need to play a crucial role in recognising and elevating women entrepreneurship as a key lever to jump-start economic activity in the current environment. There is need for accelerating financial inclusion strategies by monetary authorities as well as adopting a cultural shift that support women entrepreneurship.
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Dr. Shepard Makurumidze
Graduate Business School, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi - Zimbabwe
tsmak70@gmail.com
Mrs. Tongesai Mpofu
Department of Marketing, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi - Zimbabwe


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