Women deserve more space at the top: Zaba
Below is an acceptance speech by Zimbabwe Independent editor Faith Zaba.
IAM delighted to stand before all of you here today. It is an honour and privilege to receive this Women in News Editorial Leadership award. I thank you.
I became editor of the
three years ago, becoming the first female editor in the paper’s 26-year history.
My publisher, Trevor Ncube, believed in me, thank you. I also wish to thank the amazing team I work with at the led by our group CEO Kenias Mafukidze. A team that continues to provide authoritative coverage on the Zimbabwe story.
I hope this award will inspire many young female journalists aspiring to join this incredibly fulfilling profession.
Working as a journalist in Zimbabwe is risky for all in the media, it is twice as challenging for women. Female journalists also face gender discrimination and patriarchy, which extends into the newsroom.
It has been a long and difficult journey for me to be recognised in a sector which has always considered the newsroom a “boys club”. Women advance to middle management positions, but are unable to pass through this barrier.
Despite the gender gap narrowing slightly from 2018, women still face an uphill battle in leadership positions. e higher women climb, the more biases, challenges and stereotypes they face.
Women deserve more space at the top. is is a serious issue of concern and it also applies to other spheres of society not only in Zimbabwe but in many other countries.
e media in Zimbabwe, like in many developing countries, is lagging behind in change of attitudes towards women.
e story is the same in every sector — media, corporate world, government and in politics.
I hope this award demonstrates to the young female journalists that through perseverance, hard work, determination, and standing up to sexism and bias, a woman can climb the slippery corporate ladder.
More needs to be done to tackle gender inequality in our newsrooms, where women remain grossly underrepresented, especially at management level. It is time we shatter toxic masculinity and work towards political, economic and social gender equality.
As Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie said: “I matter. I matter equally. Not ‘if only’, not ‘as long as’. I matter. Full stop.”
Last but not least, I would like to thank Gender Media Connect and its former director, the late Abigail Gamanya, for nominating me for the award. I thank you.
From C1
IFRA deputy executive director and director for Africa region. “In celebrating Zaba, we are also celebrating all the women who have found a home in this noble profession and will look to her and other laureates as role models.”
“Faith is a role model for female journalists in Zimbabwe and beyond and her resilience and fearlessness towards the pursuit of excellence in journalism is worth celebrating and emulating” said Susan Makore, WIN director for Advisory and Insights and also Zimbabwe country manager.
WIN celebrates laureate for Africa
West Property puts women, youth at core of housing development
THE affordable lifestyle neighbourhoods being developed by West Property in Harare have women, girls and the youth at the core of planning and execution.
e neighbourhoods at Pomona City, Pokugara, Millennium Heights put emphasis on safety, accessibility and affordability. Gunhill Rise and Homelands 263 have been completed.
West Property infrastructure development integrates gender equality making them more inclusive, friendly and adaptive. e housing estates are well lit, will have well marked road signage, street names, 24-hour digital and human security, among other key features.
e thrust on women and youth arises from previous developments in Harare were not integrated. All the developments are well serviced with tarred roads, water, storm water drains, electricity and internet connectivity.
“We are developing affordable premium lifestyle communities in Zimbabwe. We are bringing Dubai to Zimbabwe. One brick at a time,” says West Property chief executive and award winning property mogul Ken Sharpe.
e mixed use residential estates have shopping centres, schools, an entertainment section with swimming pools, tennis and squash courts, a park, club house and church sites. —