HIGH-FLYERS Celebrating independence with Air-Zim all-female crew

ZIMBABWE’S first all-female flight deck crew is a demonstration of the remarkable efforts the country has taken towards achieving women empowerment for the past 37 years.

As Zimbabwe commemorates its independence, the economic, political and social transformative measures put in place by Government to improve women’s livelihoods cannot be ignored. Despite the current economic challenges, women, who constitute 52 percent of Zimbabwe’s population have utilised the opportunities availed to them to transform their lives for the better. This evident passion to excel regardless of gender disparities saw two Air Zimbabwe female pilots make history.

In 2015, Chipo Matimba and Elizabeth Simbi Petros flew a Boeing 737 from Harare to Victoria Falls becoming the first all-female flight crew. Early this month, President Mugabe returned to Zimbabwe from Mauritius on an Air Zimbabwe A320 Airbus flown once again by an all-female flight crew.

The crew was led by Chipo Matimba as captain, Ms Thandi Dube as the first officer, Constance Masimbe and Mary Murimba as senior flight attendants. This is testimony to the Government’s thirst to empower women. Before independence, access to education, health and other necessities was a struggle for the black man, let alone a black woman. In the postindependence period, the Government has made access to education a possibility.

Both females and males are now afforded equal opportunities to study any degree or course of choice at any chosen institution. Though the fight still goes on, most Zimbabweans now appreciate females as much as they value males in any given setup.

The country now boasts of qualified female medical doctors, engineers, pilots, psychologists, judges and officers in the army.

Some are now decision-makers in the corporate sector while there are more female police officers and others are now running flourishing businesses.

Politically, women can now contest for any position. In the cabinet, there are ministers that include Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development (SMEs), Sithembiso Nyoni, the Minister of State for provincial Affairs in Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa and Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri among others.

This change was not drastic. The Government put in place policies and legislations to push women empowerment in a country were most high positions were traditionally reserved for men. The Ministry of Women Affairs Gender and Community Development was formed in 2005 to spearhead women empowerment, gender equality and equity for community development.

The ministry seeks the most effective ways of integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment in the key areas of poverty eradication and sustainable development. In line with its mandate the ministry ensures that women become key participants in the economy through meaningful involvement in all key sectors of the economy.

It provides economic opportunities for women, namely the quantity and quality of women’s economic involvement in leadership and ownership of the means of production, beyond their mere presence as workers. Educational empowerment of women which is a most fundamental prerequisite for empowering women in all spheres of life is also another mandate of the ministry.

Economic empowerment for women in Zimbabwe has largely been associated with small-scale informal ventures including cross border trade, vending, hairdressing, subsistence farming and care work.

Changes have however, taken place. Before independence most women were farm labourers but this is no longer the case as most women are now farm owners contributing to the country’s agricultural production.

The Government’s input schemes have also benefited most women in the farming sector. Women are also defying odds as they are venturing into mining, a sector which for years has been male-dominated, maybe due to the strenuous nature of the work.

An association, Woman in Mining, was created to spearhead the licensing of women into artisanal miners and it has been playing a leading role in women’s participation in mining.

Women entrepreneurship and empowerment is a good vehicle to economic growth. It goes without saying that the Government and civil society have held rigorous campaigns against early childhood marriages.

However, the country still has high records of early childhood marriages and cases of domestic violence in Mashonaland Central. This calls for more to be done to cover the gap that still remains. SMEs account for 70 percent of the country’s businesses with the majority being women and the youth. The high population of women in Zimbabwe shows they are key to unlocking the economic potential in the country.

It is pivotal to guarantee the rights of women and young girls in order for them to flourish and contribute towards the country’s development.

In most African countries women have fewer opportunities for economic and political participation than men. For Zimbabwean women each year after independence has brought about new dimensions of empowerment creating opportunities for women and girls to scale new and greater heights. — Zimpapers Syndication. HAVING made inroads into business a few years go, a local cross-border trader, in partnership with his father decided to invest their little fortune, in what most people would have perceived as rubble and an eyesore.

Father and son, Ishmael and Byron Rice invested what they had managed to save into a house that had been razed down by an inferno that destroyed the structure in Bulawayo’s North End suburb.

The house, which was gradually repaired and turned into a lodge, Harris Guest House, has become a trendsetter in the neighbourhood, and has turned from being a blemish to a beautiful establishment, which boasts of a luxurious garden, filled with various types of exotic flora.

With their roots centred in Mozambique but migrated to Zimbabwe and lived in one of Bulawayo’s oldest suburbs — Matshobana — the Rices spent most of their years living in a semi-poverty stricken neighbourhood, always yearning for what their counterparts in the eastern suburbs had.

“As a father I felt I needed to do something for my kids. They always yearned for what other kids had and I made a vow to give it to them. It was not easy and to this day it is still a struggle,” said Ishmael Rice.

The house at Number 3, Harris Road was gutted by fire some years ago and was left neglected until it was acquired by the Rices who turned it into a guest house, which now boasts having played host to one of Zimbabwe’s legendary musicians, Oliver Mtukudzi, and South Africa’s pop sensation, Patricia Majalisa, among other prominent stars. It is nothing out of the ordinary but resembles a section of a humongous mansion, owned by a celebrity. Ishmael said remodelling the property took them about a year.

“We initially bought the property in 2011, after having been convinced by an estate agent that it could be turned into something extraordinary and be beautiful. Initially we just wanted to remodel the property into an extraordinary house. It was only after the remodelling had been done that we decided to turn it into a guest house,” said Ishmael, who is the guest house’s managing director.

The guest house, most of its rooms air-conditioned, they also have deluxe in suites, full DStv bouquets, Wi-Fi and internet services.

The guest house also offers other services such as a state-of-the-art outdoor conference centre, which the two seemingly boast of, as it offers a simulation of a wildlife experience and can cater for up to about 80 people.

Ishmael however, said running of such a business was not easy, calling on the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to recognise such indigenous lodges and have them certified on the ZTA group.

“Of course life wasn’t easy but we managed to get by through the harsh economic challenges. We long to be recognised by the ZTA and wish to be listed among lodges that they refer local and international guests,” he said.

He said business was at an all-time low nowadays, as they would sometimes go for weeks without bookings.

“It is not like how it used to be and we hope that the ZTA hears our cries. Nowadays we only get people coming for meals. Business is tough as we also have to pay wages and utilities,” said Ishmael.

The guest house also boasts a beautifullymaintained yard, with exotic plants and lawn around the premises.

“We offer services fit for kings and queens. We have a well experienced staff to manage the place and with time we hope to create more jobs in line with our vision,” said Ishmael. He noted that it was through hard work, determination and trusting in the Almighty that he managed to develop the property.

“I have always adhered to the motto — Tinototenda Mwari — which means we thank God. Without his guidance we would be nowhere,” he said, adding that he often sought assistance from his son Byron.

Rooms offered at the lodge include, presidential, executive and standard, which they had since renamed according to minerals such as Gold, Platinum, Silver and Copper.

“We offer a wide range of services such as game drives, city and airport shuttles. Our security is comparable to none, as we want our clients to feel relaxed whenever they are with us. However, we wish to add more services and as an interested party in the industry, I am calling upon ZTA to introduce duty free or at least have reasonable fees on selected items for such businesses, as it is strenuous to our coffers to be paying large amounts of money, when there are less returns,” said Ishmael.