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Victoria Ruzvidzo In Focus
“We want to go beyond mere survival to thriving. And contribute to wealth creation. As the country opens up for business, this should be done in a way that empowers women economically and equally protects their rights and interest.”

These words were said by human and child rights activist Ms Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda at the Gender Equality conference held in Harare this week. Powerful words that summarise the vision and wish of most Zimbabwean women. In fact across the globe women are yearning for their rightful place I the field of play.

Yesterday this country joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Women’s Day set aside to achievements by women in all spheres of life.

It is not everyday that women celebrate the strides they have made in the multiplicity of roles they play in families, communities and nations at large, but thank God for the International Women’s Day!

It is crystal clear that universally, women are the primary care givers and play a huge role in the socialisation process, which impacts on generations.

From a business perspective, once a woman is empowered, a whole clan is and the reach and influence is even more underlined in contemporary African society.

Indeed, the past decade has seen women rise and achieve much, but there is still a long way to go before the playing field becomes level.

But in this instalment we say despite the challenges that confront women, it is about that the women themselves do a self-introspection and assess how they can contribute to their development and growth despite the stumbling blocks thrown all over the place.

Yes we agree that certain issues have to be addressed to create a smooth pathway for women, but as this happens, the women themselves should engage the top gear and seek to make a difference regardless of the circumstances.

Powerful women we all admire such as the International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde, Facebook chief operating officer Shirley Sandberg and former United States of America First Lady Michelle Obama did not attain their status by being passive and mere expecting someone to bring about the change they wanted.

They obviously decided to be proactive and did something to take them to where they are. For instance, Ms Lagarde was certainly not made the IMF boss visa mere affirmative action or a quota system (not that this is bad or wrong) but she stood up to be counted. She acquired education and knowledge and performed well in her previously role until she was identified as having the right DNA to occupy the IMF top position.

In Zimbabwe we have our very own examples in the form of Lion Finance chief executive Lynn Mukonoweshuro, Nicoz Diamond’s Grace Muradzikwa, Securico founder and CEO Divine Dhlukula, TelOne managing director Chipo Mtasa, MBCA boss Charity Jinya, Women University in Africa co-founder Professor Hope Sadza of WUA, Empretec’s Busi Bango, prominent commercial lawyer and businesswoman Florence Ziumbe and many others who have made it. They will all tell you that it has not been easy, but they had to fight their way through. The race is not for the meek.

Many aspire to be like them, but it takes thinking, not outside the box, but away from the box. It certainly is not an easy road to the top, but tenacity and the inner desire to achieve can help women fend off challenges that often weigh them down.

Women can choose to be different in the way they do their work. In this new dispensation women need to bring new ideas to the table to help restore the economy. In this economy it is survival of the fittest.

Even globally, changing consumer tastes keep firms on their toes and senior women in the corporate sector and elsewhere need to be equal to the task and be ready for the changes. This requires boldness.

The new political dispensation has created many opportunities to grow the economy and women need to grow with it. Reports that the mining sector will receive at least $12 billion over the next five years should excite women to strategically position themselves, so that they benefit from this.

Zimbabwe’s participation at the Spanish Tourism Fair-FITUR, the ITB in Berlin Germany and other international tourism engagements have also elicited favourable response for Zimbabwe, not just as a tourist destination, but a competitive investment destination too.

This means increased activity in the sector will be experienced soon, so women should not be found wanting. Nothing will be handed over on a silver platter, but it takes a woman tour operator or hotelier to strategise and ensure they are not left behind yet again.

It is also about having a clear vision and planning well. But plans are sometimes not worth the paper they are written on if they are not followed with execution. Robust execution is a bold imperative in face of an increasingly competitive environment, especially one where much is skewed in favour of male counterparts.

We know that as women we need to work twice as hard as men to achieve half the recognition, but being assertive will see women achieve any given end.

Statistics that only 1 900 out of the 18 000 small-scale farms allocated during land reform were given to women have the potential to dampen the spirit, but these should actually motivate women to rise from the mat to find ways and means to ensure that such figures are corrected.

So much is working against women globally, but there are those that have made it regardless. This means much can be achieved as women wait for the environment to become more friendly.

Women have natural attributes such as emotional intelligence in which they already score highly. This relates to understanding one’s emotions and those around you and acting accordingly. Empathy, care and understanding are natural endowments in women, which can be used in their businesses and professions.

There is general consensus that it is not necessarily qualifications, skills and experience that determine output, but rather it is emotional intelligence that is key in team building, negotiation, networking and relationships among others.

Furthermore, mentoring is critical. Women need to be mentored and to mentor. That is how they can learn, impact livelihoods and occupy their rightful place.

Michelle Obama once said: “When we have worked hard and done well and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. No. You reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”

Women can maximise on each other’s strengths and tag each other along.

Life is a continuous pursuit of our ideals and goals. It is only through determination that these become manifest.

Women need to stop mourning and do that which will help them leave a legacy of boldness, triumph and success for themselves and for posterity.

Martin Luther King Jnr Had a dream. Women have dreams! Hence, the new dispensation is pregnant with opportunities to help women realise their dreams. It is a done deal. The match is for women to lose.

In God I Trust!