The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Correspondent
If you educate a woman, you would have educated the whole nation.
This proves true for Mutare’s prominent lawyer, Advocate Natsai Sharon Nyamwanza.
As the world celebrates women during the month of March, The Manica Post caught up with Adv Nyamwanza.
The feisty woman is determined to show the world that a woman can do anything.
She is a mother of two, a business woman, a Rotarian and a proud founder and partner at a law firm, Nyamwanza and Associates.
Despite facing challenges that include discrimination and unfair treatment in her professional journey – all because of her sex — Adv Nyamwanza has been keen to score high in the legal fraternity. She has done exactly that with flying colours.
Adv Nyamwanza is the second female lawyer to establish her own law firm in Manicaland. Justice Lavender Makoni who is now a Constitutional Court Judge was the first one to do so.
“The law firm was incorporated in September 2008 after the tough journey I went through shortly after law school. I served as a public prosecutor at Mutare and Nyanga Magistrates’ courts. I later resigned and was employed as a professional assistant at two different law firms before quitting to become my own boss in the mine infested legal field,” she said.
As she follows in the footprints of Justice Makoni, Adv Nyamwanza hopes that one day she will be one of the country’s judges.
“There has been a remarkable shift in the judiciary system in Zimbabwe. The appointment of several female High, Supreme and Constitutional Courts judges from Manicaland is quite commendable.
“It gives power and hope to the girl child. To date, we have Justices Lavender Makoni, Hlekani Mwayera and the recently appointed Justice Lucie-Anne Mungwari. They all trace their roots to Manicaland. Who knows, maybe the judge call will knock on my door one day,” she smiled.
Adv Nyamwanza said the challenges she faced as a professional assistant gave her the motivation and strength to establish the Nyamwanza and Associates law firm.
“The challenges I faced were plenty, but I was not moved because I knew I was going to prove that women are equally competent. After all we were all enrolled, together with my male counterparts, at the same law school.
“I have just shown the world that I can do it and I am still standing very strong despite all the male chauvinism inspired hurdles that I have faced in my journey. I win most of my cases at court. We have some clients who prefer female lawyers because women are committed and honest. That’s why we are advocating for stronger female voices,” she said.
“I also had my father’s support, Mr Wilson Nyamwanza. Although culturally the girl child is disadvantaged, my father believed in me. Back then, the girl child would only be educated up to Ordinary Level, before being married off; but my father had a different vision. He encouraged me to continue with my education and that is why I am here today,” reminisced the proud legal practitioner.
She reiterated the importance of investing in the girl child, stating that there is need for advocacy on protecting the girl child’s right to education so that she can become economically independent.
“There are stereotypes about women that can only be addressed through policies. More women’s voices in the legal sector will make drastic positive changes and I believe all this can be achieved once we empower the girl child with education.
“Educating the girl child reduces inequality. In some families, boys are still given priority in going to school if resources are thin and this disadvantages the girls. This creates inequality, and that is what we need to shun because girls and boys are equal.
“When we say ‘#Break the bias, this means men and women must see each other as equals in practice, not just in theory. It also means meaningful child care solutions must be put in place so that women’s careers are not impacted negatively as they take care of their children,” said Adv Nyamwanza.
She added: “The Government of Zimbabwe is trying to empower women and it is commendable. The introduction of affirmative action in the education sector has been helpful, the establishment of the Zimbabwe Women Micro-Finance Bank has seen many women establishing their own businesses.
“Several organisations like the Women Coalition of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association and Women Action Group, among many others, have been fighting in the women’s corner. However, there is still room for improvement,” she said.
Adv Nyamwanza said women need to unite and help each other up the corporate ladder. Turning to her role as the president of Mutare’s Rotary Club, a voluntary organisation, Adv Nyamwanza has led the club in undertaking several projects across Manicaland. But how exactly does she juggle all her roles as a mother, lawyer, Rotarian and still deliver so effortlessly?
“I was born and bred in Watsomba, and I am the first child in a family of four. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters – Leandra and Nokutenda – whom I am also empowering.
“As a professional woman you have to balance between work and your social life. My children have an age gap of nine years because l was working and trying to build a family at the same time. Back then, there was no paid maternity leave, so you had to struggle with your pregnancy while at work, but this did not stop me from achieving my goals. As lawyers, we work long hours even during weekends and this sometimes negatively impacts on other areas of life. You need an understanding and supportive family to make it work,” she said.
To celebrate Women’s Month and #Break the bias, women from across the world are posing for photographs while striking an ‘X’ pose and then posting the images online.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme was ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’.
