The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi Post Correspondent
Although Women’s Month is now in the rear view mirror, Zimbabwe continues to make huge strides in empowering women, and Manicaland is not lagging behind.
Its Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution — Cde Nokuthula Matsikenyere — is female. So was her predecessor, the late national heroine, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba.
Both the principals of Mutare Polytechnic College and Marymount Teachers’ College — Ms Poniso Watema and Ms Petty Silitshena — are female. The tertiary institutions have even won merit awards under their astute leadership, while they have also scooped some accolades.
At Civic Centre, the headquarters of Mutare’s local authority, women are occupying influential positions of authority.
Mrs Mandiziba (housing and community services director), Ms Mabika (chief committee and administration officer and council’s gender focal person), Ms Nhongo (human resources manager), Dr Murembwe (acting director of health services), Councillor Mukodza (chairperson of the public works and works town lands committee) are some of the high-ranking women pulling the strings at town house.
Another female in a top position is this publication’s editor — Mrs Wendy Nyakurerwa-Matinde — a distinguished and seasoned journalist. Her assumption of duty at this newspaper was a historic occurrence as she became The Manica Post’s first female editor.
Clearly, this shows that women can take full control and cruise to lofty heights as heads of corporate organisations.
They have proved time without doubt that where there is a will there is a way.
It, therefore, calls for their exertions in life’s many endeavours to be celebrated everyday, not only during the month of March.
To get ahead, most of the women who have made it to the top have refused to be compartmentalised into the domestic fiefdom.
They have actually broken out of those household cocoons and went on to flourish even when heavy odds were staked against them. They are not inferior or second class citizens.
To get to the apex of social, economic, political and academic ladders, they overcame the hurdles that were littering their paths, including patriarch, gender-enforced roles and discrimination.
In the whims of some cynics’ weird and wild imagination, women’s ascendancy to the zenith of organisations is only possible through carpet interviews. What awfully warped thinking!
Also, single mothers often get a lot of stick, yet they are bearing the brunt of raising their families alone owing to the irresponsibilities, in some cases, of men who would have used and discarded them.
Gender is only a social construct which gets reinforced by verbal appellations.
Relegating women into subordination is, thus, retrogressive and deplorable. It is such an unjustifiable and despicable act.
Crystallising the trials and tribulations mothers face in their everyday being, Nigerian author, Buchi Emecheta, wrote a book ironically titled “The Joys of Motherhood”.
The narrative lays bare the critical role women play in their families and communities.
Available evidence points out that there is no sphere of life where women have not contributed immensely.
The phrase “behind every successful man is a woman” is actually an acknowledgement that captures the quintessential essence of women’s contribution to men’s achievements.
Women have continued to resolutely march on in hot pursuit of achieving an equal future.
The theme for this year’s celebrations — “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a Covid-19 World” — reflects and resonates well with the progressive direction the world is craving to take.
In line with commemorating Women’s Month, The Manica Post spoke to some of the women who have excelled in their fields. These personalities have achieved their objectives and are hungry for more success.
Education for empowerment, development
Academic, Dr Pauline Chiripanhura (nee Tapfuma) has a compelling and inspiring story, one that is difficult to ignore. Having lost her father when she was five months shy of turning two, her mother became the sole breadwinner.
To fend for the young Pauline and her three siblings, the mother turned to vending. As young as she was, she drew inspiration from her mother’s daily grind.
“That struggle alone motivated me to study hard so that one day I could provide for my mother. I wanted to make her proud,” she recounts.
Dr Chiripanhura would later move in with her aunt — another widow caring for her own three children.
Surrounded by tenacious female figures in her early life, she had iron-willed heroines to look up to and emulate. And she did not disappoint.
Determined not to be held back, she studied up to tertiary level. Today is a proud holder of a PhD.
She is now a lecturer at one of Zimbabwe’s bastions of higher learning — the University of Zimbabwe — having previously worked as a Curator of Archaeology with the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) at Mutare Museum.
“The sky is not even the limit for women as they can surpass their male counterparts’ achievements.
“Women have to fight low self-esteem. They deserve second chances when they falter — specifically girls who would have fallen pregnant and dropped out of school.
“I am very fortunate that I have a caring husband — Tendai — who has been supportive every step of the way. In a blissful marriage blessed with two lovely daughters — Tayananiswa and Taonashe — I am keen to properly groom them socially and empower them through education. It is also important to nurture them so that they realise their full potential,” said Dr Chiripanhura.
Firm and assertive, Dr Chiripanhura had no kind words for child marriages.
Netsai Sheilah Murangwa
Driving the agenda
Donning a blue work suit in the male-dominated transport field, Netsai Sheilah Murangwa has no qualms about being a taxi driver.
Her only hurdle is the Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen her parking her vehicle in compliance with the national regulations to stop the spread of the virus.
Besides those recent hiccups, this occupation has sustained her family. She has even undertaken developmental projects using proceeds from her job.
“As a driver, I do not in any way feel out of place. I love this vocation. As I work with the public, I get to meet a lot of people, some of whom try to put me off by insinuating that I am in the wrong profession.
“I turn a blind eye and deaf ear to all that and diligently work. In fact, I do not take offence from that as I know my worth.
“I actually quit a good and well-paying job to become a taxi driver. I have no regrets since I am now my own boss.
“I’m earning quite handsomely from this venture. I have not looked back since then because I am thoroughly enjoying it and looking forward to growing my fleet of cars into a fully fledged and thriving transport enterprise.
“I hold a clean and valid Class One driver’s licence and also have a Defensive Driving Certificate as well as a medical examination certificate.
“It is a common occurrence to encounter commuters who doubt my capabilities as a female driver.
“During my tour of duty, I have come to learn to avoid arguing with passengers so as to avoid distractions. I always drive to arrive alive,” said Murangwa, with a wide smile on her face.
Through mutual respect and gender equality, she reckons, female drivers can cordially co-exist with their male counterparts.Murangwa was once a long-distance bus driver with Zupco and plied the Nyanga-Nyamaropa-Harare route.
