Zimbabwean minister: Women are foundation of change for better Africa

During the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, Zimbabwe's Minister of Women's Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Monica Mutsvangwa praised China's role in promoting global gender equality and empowering women through collaboration and shared learning.

In an exclusive interview with CGTN's Cui Yingjie, Mutsvangwa said women in Africa are not just beneficiaries, but the backbone of change – hardworking, resilient and prepared to adopt digital transformation. She observed that small and medium-sized enterprises – many led by women – now account for around 60 percent of Zimbabwe's GDP, highlighting women's increasing role in driving the country's economic transformation.

Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Mutsvangwa described the conference as a crucial moment to "review, recommit and move forward together." She expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for providing training opportunities and support for women entrepreneurs. She also expressed hope for stronger cooperation between Zimbabwe and China in promoting women's empowerment, green development and inclusive growth.