HARARE - Home Affairs co-minister Theresa Makone has told women to be vigilant and refuse to be used by corrupt politicians in the run up to the next elections.

Addressing thousands of women in Torwood, Kwekwe at the weekend, Makone said women and children have been the major victims of political violence in previous elections.

“You must refuse to be used in committing acts of violence. Do not allow your children to be used in committing murders on behalf of politicians because you will suffer the consequences,” Makone said.

Reports say more than 1 000 women were abused during the last elections. Many others were displaced.

Thousands other women have become destitute after their homes were burnt down during the political violence.

Makone was speaking at the graduation ceremony for more than 200 women who had undergone a two-day business management training course.

The MDC women’s assembly has trained over 10 000 women countrywide in business management to enable them to start and manage income-generating projects.

The programme is designed to empower women with business knowledge, a key requirement to access working capital from financial institutions.

Lynette Kore the national organising secretary for the MDC women’s assembly, said they were empowering women in Zimbabwe in order to reduce poverty.

“We are training all women who want business management skills. In the course we also cover conflict management to capacitate them on how to manage conflict and we also do HIV/Aids awareness,” Kore said. - Staff Writer