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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 49917, member: 636"] Women across Zimbabwe rushed to open bank accounts last year as a special microfinance institution made banking easier for everyone. The Zimbabwe Women Microfinance Bank helped 11,120 people start saving money for the first time. Most customers were women who had never used formal banking services before. The bank handed out over 4,000 loans worth millions of local dollars to help people start businesses. These financial services created 2,350 new jobs across the country. Harare residents grabbed most of the new banking opportunities with 6,173 accounts opened during 2024. Bulawayo came second with 1,256 people signing up for savings accounts at the women-focused bank. Rural areas like Matabeleland North saw fewer people join with only 15 new accounts opened. Matabeleland South performed slightly better with 19 residents starting to save money. The bank taught nearly 11,000 people about managing money and running small businesses. Masvingo Province grabbed the most loan money from the bank with 747 people receiving financial help. The province got over 128 million local dollars to fund new business ventures and farming projects. Mashonaland East came second with 634 loans given to residents who wanted to expand their work. Rural provinces received much less funding compared to areas closer to major cities. The government hopes more rural people will use these banking services next year. Community development programs funded 230 projects across Zimbabwe during 2024. Over 38,000 people received money to improve their lives through agriculture and manufacturing ventures. Women made up almost half of all the people who got help from these special funding programs. [/QUOTE]

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