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Hope Sadza

Ruth Butaumocho Gender Editor
When Prof Hope Sadza decided to quit her job as a Public Service Commissioner to fulfil a dream that had for a long time preoccupied her mind, she never imagined that she would go for a year without an income. She did and it was a painful experience. Her predicament was worsened by friends and colleagues who ridiculed her on her decision to undertake such an arduous project.

However, she remained steadfast in her resolution, an unmatched determination that resulted in the establishment of the Women’s University in Africa (WUA), the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and the region.

Prof Sadza is the vice chancellor and founder of WUA, an institution that has become a beacon of hope to thousands of women who cannot be absorbed in conventional universities.

“I needed more than determination in setting up the university, because there were no resources to support the dream,” she recalls.
Eleven years have since passed since WUA opened its doors to the first 600 students for the first intake.

Looking back, Prof Sadza said her decision to establish the university at a time when most women were gunning for investments in blue chip companies was matched by a determination to empower women.

“The majority of women could not dream beyond their households, because they were not educated.
Their lack of education was not entirely their fault, but it was due to lack of resources, time and unavailability of proper institutions where they could dedicate a few hours to learn,” said Prof Sadza.

She added: “I knew the project was too challenging, but I needed to make a difference.”
Throughout her illustrious career, steeped in education, she always saw a great disparity in the African education system that was not keen on valuing women’s advancement and somewhat bordered on the archaic.

A mixture of a driven personality, deep-seated passion to assist the marginalised and a conviction to serve, further strengthened her determination to establish the institution, whatever the cost.

From its inception in 2003, WUA has transformed the lives of thousands of women who had no access and means to education prior to its establishment.

The university has an enrolment of 2 000 students, with a ratio of about 80 percent women to 20 percent men. The study model is very user-friendly allowing for a flexible schedule.

Mindful to the limited financial resources that the majority of women have, the university offers flexible payment plans to its students, to afford them an opportunity to proceed with their education while they look for money.

“Women often find it difficult to apportion resources towards their own education, because more often than not, they put their needs at the bottom, whilst they care for their families,” she said.

Mindful of the challenges that women face in creating economic opportunities for themselves, the university offers different programmes that nurture and promote entrepreneurship.

“We do have a faculty of management, entrepreneurial development studies, because we want to equip our students with different skills, so that when they leave they do not just look for jobs, but are also able to create employment for others,” she added.

However, Prof Sadza concedes that the route towards achieving her dreams has not been without obstacles.
“We are still struggling with the issue of funding for the full operation of the university. Right now, we don’t have our own tutorial venues, and we have to rent premises. We do have a farm in Marondera and other university properties around the country.

“It is our wish to build a place of our own,” she revealed.
Despite the challenges, Prof Sadza has not lost hope.

Her determination is not only confined to her professional sphere, but also extends to her personal attributes as attested by the qualifications she currently holds and the number of organisations she is working with.

She is a holder a master’s degree in Public Administration with the University of Missouri, as well as a PhD from the University of Zimbabwe.
Prof Sadza is a high achiever, who sits on seven executive boards, including the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed blue chip entities, Barclays Bank and Delta Corporation.

She also sits on several committees and trusts for various non-governmental organisations.