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Mashudu Mambo
AS the world continues to celebrate International Women’s Month, we celebrate Doreen Dube (37), a mother of five, who has defied stereotypes by building a successful career in construction.
The theme, “Inspire Inclusion,” calls for equal opportunities for women in all fields. Doreen’s story exemplifies this spirit, encouraging everyone to support women and girls in leadership roles across economic, social and political spheres.
In the United Kingdom, the Bureau of Labour Statistics reports that only 10.8 percent of construction workers are women. This under-representation is likely due to factors like high levels of harassment and persistent gender stereotypes.
Data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2019, reveals that women’s representation in construction across Africa remains low. The percentage of female construction workers varied by country, with Ghana at 2.7 percent, Tanzania at four percent and Uganda at 4.5 percent.
However, Zimbabwe’s National Statistics Agency reported a higher figure of nine percent for women in construction, in the same year. Doreen Dube is not just a successful professional in construction, she’s a leader who helped build it. As co-founder and owner of Alert Engineering, Dube’s company has been a thriving presence in the industry since 2007.
“Balancing motherhood with my professional life keeps me busy. I’m a qualified marketer, and I run Mobeat Sliding Gates, which operates under the name Alert Engineering. We have been established in construction for some time now. While thermal insulation is our specialty, we also undertake a wide variety of construction projects.
“We are fortunate to have a service contract with a local beverage manufacturing company, as one of our major clients. This allows us to work on both commercial and residential projects, offering a diverse range of construction services,” she explained.
Dube recounted her inspiring journey leading a construction company.
“The journey has been a difficult one, initially l started the company with my husband but I lost him in 2020, so l was left with the responsibility of operating the company. I have faced judgment, disrespect and condemnation. Some men simply won’t respect you, no matter how hard you work. But I have channelled those criticisms into a relentless drive for quality. Delivering exceptional work is my answer. It’s been tough. Working in a male-dominated industry and dealing with those stereotypes head-on has been challenging. But it has also been incredibly rewarding. I have overcome numerous obstacles and proven myself in this field,” said Dube.
She said her desire to conquer a male-dominated industry fuelled her motivation.
“Construction is a field that often discourages women. That’s exactly why it drew me in. I wanted to shatter the stereotype and show women that they can chase any dream, no matter what industry it’s in.”
Dube urged women to rise and chase their dreams regardless of the obstacles that are laid in their way.
“They say women are the future,” Dube declared, “and I believe it. Women today are unstoppable. We can achieve anything we set our hearts to. Let’s rise, embrace our potential and build the empires we dream of,” she said.
Online Reporter