…. Mobilises over 100 women for self-employment
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The United States of America (USA) has honoured and endorsed a hardworking woman, Bethusile Ruth Dlamini.
Through their social media platforms and statements, the Embassy honoured and celebrated Dlamini, for her hard-working spirit.
Dlamini is an inspiring 48-year-old liSwati woman with eight children. She has been a vendor in Manzini for over 20 years, and through her business she has contributed to the wellbeing of her family and education of her children.
According to the US Embassy, Dlamini serves as chairperson for the Coalition of Informal Economy Associations in Eswatini; a coordinating body of the informal sector of Eswatini.
“She also serves at Liphimbo Labomake as the chairperson for the Manzini region. Liphimbo Labomake is a women’s coalition working with women-led organisations and women in communities to build their leadership capacity, strengthen their representation in decision making platforms.
“From community to national levels and create economic, social and other opportunities for the development of women in the country,” read the post in part.
As the Manzini region chairperson, Bethusile has a strong influence within her community, especially to women working within the informal sector and those that look up to her.
Among her many contributions to the development of women, Bethusile has successfully mobilised women in her sector to participate in business development and capacity building opportunities availed by various partners supporting the informal sector.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dlamini mobilised 100 women who were trained and given cash injection to strengthen their businesses under the Ready Together project, funded by the U.S. Embassy.
Within the Manzini Municipality structures, Bethusile serves as the chairperson of the Zone 1 section of vendors in Manzini representing their welfare and voices within the municipality platforms for vendors trading in the city. Among her peers, Dlamini is celebrated for grooming new vendors, creating a warm-safe working environment in Zone 1, strengthening teamwork through cultivating a culture of resource sharing across each other, including reliable suppliers, those offering better deals and quality, to gain efficiencies as a team.
Dlamini resembles many women of Eswatini through her contributions to the development of her community, resilience, positive influence and compassion and upliftment of others. She is a leader at home and in her community.
BELOW IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY:
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝?
I am always motivated by the need to provide for my children and to create a safe environment for all children to grow in. I am also motivated by the need to create a strong network of informal traders, especially women to support each other and strengthen our businesses and increase their voice in the society.
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲?
I am inspired by strong women who are assertive who assist each other and work hard for their families. I am highly inspired by Make Malter Vilakati who is a great business woman and has worked so hard starting as an informal trader and now manages big businesses. She has always motivated us, shared some business strategies with us and has always advocated for women empowerment in the informal sector and beyond.
𝐓e𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫.
I have learnt that leadership is about uniting people and assisting them to work together and resolve challenges that they may face. I have learnt that it is very important to ensure clear communication with people when you are in leadership.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞?
The decision to stand firm on my words as a leader especially even in tough times. As a woman leader in informal trade we face many challenges, some affecting our work, we often have to stand firm and push back where necessary. I have learnt to be very firm especially when negotiating with key decision makers; this has impacted me in many ways as sometimes I am misunderstood.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟?
I have been able to work very hard in informal trade and have educated my eight children who have all completed school now. I have also been able to work with different committees and associations in the country to advocate for better working conditions for women especially in the informal trade. I have been able to be part of key negotiations for women in the informal trade since 1996 and I am happy to note that there have been positive changes in the sector.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬?
The next generation of women leaders must have a strong voice, they must be able to organise and speak in a collective voice to challenge harmful laws and practises. They must be intentional in supporting and promoting the rights and welfare of women especially women in the informal sector who are disadvantaged. There is a lot of injustice that is faced by women in the informal sector today even though there have been a number of advocacy initiatives.
𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡?
Patience.
