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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 10, No. 3

Publication Date: March 25, 2023

DOI:10.14738/assrj.103.14301.

Lusinga-Machikicho, S., Mapolisa, T., & Mutanana, N. (2023). Applicability of the Growth Point Policy in Addressing Women Socio- Economic Empowerment Issues; Case of Tsholotsho District, Matebeleland North Province, Zimbabwe. Advances in Social Sciences

Research Journal, 10(3). 201-218.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Applicability of the Growth Point Policy in Addressing Women

Socio-Economic Empowerment Issues; Case of Tsholotsho

District, Matebeleland North Province, Zimbabwe

Susan Lusinga-Machikicho

Women's University in Africa

Faculty of Social and Gender Transformative Sciences.

Tichaona Mapolisa

Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer, Zimbabwe Open University

Ngonidazshe Mutanana

Faculty of Social Sciences and Gender Transformative Sciences,

Women’s University in Africa

Abstract

The main focus of this study was to establish and understand the role of the growth

point policy in promoting of women’s socio-economic empowerment in Tsholotsho

District, Matebeleland North Province, Zimbabwe. An exploratory research design

was adopted in this qualitative study since it afforded participants a platform to

narrate their experiences with regards to the applicability of the growth point

policy to women’s socio-economic empowerment. The target population included

women from both the Centre and the Villages as well as key informants from

government departments. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions as

well as non- participatory observations were employed as methods of collecting

data. Purposive sampling was used to come up with the research participants and

data was collected from government officials, traditional leaders, NGOs working in

Tsholotsho district as well as women from the centre (growth point) and from the

hinterlands (villages). A sample size of 30 took part in the study. The study found

out that the growth point strategy has been instrumental in positively transforming

the lives and livelihoods of women in Tsholotsho but on piecemeal and minute

levels of development. The study recommends that the policy be revisited and re- engineered in order meet the desires and aspirations of women in the rural sector.

Secondly, the government and its partners should do more to capacitate women

economic activities. Lastly the study recommends that the future research should

focus on what the growth point policy that takes women issues into context.

Keywords; growth points, women empowerment, KIIs, FGDs, Centre(C), Village (V)

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women, these are

the words of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan emphasising the importance

of women’s participation in development initiatives. Globally, issues of empowerment of

women and in particular, rural women have been discussed and addressed extensively. Studies