Zimpapers women trailblazers
ZIMPAPERS’ approach to gender equality and equity is paying dividends as women managers within the stable are blazing a trail through opportunities being availed by the company.
A significant number of women now occupy managerial and senior editorial posts in the male dominated industry, in a testament to the company’s positive approach towards women empowerment.
Four women currently sit on the Zimpapers board as non-executive directors namely Ms Rejoice Nharaunda-Makawa, Ms Karren Dube, Mrs Sybil Madzikanda and Ms Tsungai Chibvongodze.
Ms Nharaunda-Makawa is a Human Rights and Development Advocate and the brains behind the popular Issues Pane Nyaya Conversations. This is a talk show that started online but has grown to broadcast across seven radio stations and a television station in Zimbabwe.
Through Issues Pane Nyaya, Ms Nharaunda-Makawa uses media as a tool for transformational justice for girls, women and the marginalised by bringing to the fore complex issues affecting them as well as amplifying the voices of these constituencies.
She is also the Founding Director of Chengeto Africa, which is a regional women’s rights organisation that provides shelter and support to GBV survivors. The organisation is part of the GBV Prevention Network which comprises activists and organisations from 18 countries in Africa working to prevent violence against women.
Through its Shayanewako Empowerment Centre, Chengeto Africa supports the well-being of rural adolescent girls, school drop outs and survivors of child marriages. Ms Nharaunda-Makawa believes the empowerment of women is critical to their development and actualisation but cannot be a one-size-fits-all exercise.
“It has to be customised to meet the specific women and their individual needs. From the woman who sweeps to the woman CEO, each deserves to be empowered in order that they reach their individual maximum potential.
“We need to have corporates that are balancing the equality and equity conversation. Corporations that are deliberately bridging the historical gender gaps in the workplace, where glass ceilings don’t exist and where women can rise through the ranks,” she said.
Ms Chibvongodze, who joined the
Zimpapers Board in 2019, said: “Zimpapers is on the right track by investing in mentoring programmes which support career coaching and advancement for gender empowerment within the organisation.
“It is important to weave into the fabric of corporate society, a high-level commitment on engaging strategies for empowering women and diversifying company talent pipelines which are a major human resource asset.
“As well you will notice that Zimpapers has done very well even within the composition of women on the board and at senior management level. We all know that those positions are key in both policy and decision making. Hence Zimpapers is representing well gender empowerment at the decision making table,” she added.
Ms Chibvongodze has served on several boards including the United Nations Association of Dallas and the Adventist Community Services. She brings to the Zimpapers board strong organisational skills.
With over 10 years insight and experience in both Non-Governmental Organisations and Global agencies such as the United Nations, Helen Keller International and World Vision amongst many organisations, she brings a global workprint and a wealth of exposure and experience in managing projects of multiple dimensions across both governmental and non-governmental agencies.
Ms Dube, who joined the Zimpapers Board in 2014, brings her expertise as a Development Practitioner lecturing in the Department of Development Studies at Lupane State University. She has also taught African Languages and Literature at the University of Zimbabwe.
Mrs Madzikanda has more than 20 years banking experience working with
Standard Bank in South Africa among other senior positions.
She holds a degree in Business Administration in Industrial Psychology (UNISA) (Menley Management Institute) and a Certificate in Management, Bank Credit Business Administration (Oxford College, UK).
“Women empowerment is about a woman being able to hold her own but the challenge is for women having to double prove themselves as well as balancing other responsibilities of life,” said Mrs Madzikanda.
“Zimpapers is moving in the right direction and women get recognition for holding their own. We can only move from strength to strength”.
Company Secretary and Legal Services Manager for Zimpapers is Mrs Daphne Tomana was appointed company secretary in 2014 having joined Zimpapers in January 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Laws Honours Degree from the University of Zimbabwe (LLBS). Prior to joining Zimpapers, she practiced as a Legal Practitioner from 1997 to 2004 and as a Senior Bank Examiner with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe from 2004 to 2006.
Mrs Tomana has also served on a number boards namely: Zimbabwe Media Commission, Agribank, NICOZ, First Mutual Life and as the deputy and acting chairperson of NSSA.
Zimpapers also has a number of women holding fort as editors of various publications.
These include Mrs Victoria Ruzvidzo, Editor of the Sunday Mail, Ms Nomsa Nkala heading Zimpapers Television Network, Mrs Wendy Nyakurerwa-Matinde who edits The Manica Post and Ms Gugu Ncube, Editor of Umthunywa, a local languages newspaper.
Having joined Zimpapers in 1993 as a sit in correspondent, Mrs Ruzvidzo rose through the ranks until she was promoted to Managing Editor. In December 2018 she assumed her current position as Editor of The Sunday Mail.
Mrs Ruzvidzo posits that the company’s thrust on women empowerment has been beneficial as evidenced by the number of women who have been promoted and given a chance to shine from the board to the shop floor level.
“Most of these appointments have not been about affirmative action or quota system but women have been promoted on merit and the good thing also is that we have been blessed with a senior executive that sees value in women and that women have potential, capacity and capability to perform even better than men themselves.
“I am most excited and grateful to the chairman, shareholders, executives and everyone who has created these opportunities for us. As women it is also important that once we are entrusted with such roles we should not disappoint but live up to the billing and ensure that we vindicate those who have their faith in us. I think our today is great and our tomorrow is even brighter,” she said.
Mrs Nyakurerwa-Matinde believes Zimpapers is doing very well in empowering women as there are female leaders in almost every department.
“Most importantly, the organisation is not placing women in certain positions just because they are women. People are rewarded for their hard work,” she added.
Mrs Nyakurerwa-Matinde is the first female editor of The Manica Post. She joined The Sunday Mail as an Assistant Editor in 2013.She also worked for the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) as a
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