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Shepherd Chimururi-Youth Interactive Correspondent
What do you expect from a girl child if her role model is Ramsey a fictional character from the movie Fast and Furious?
Obviously a deep passion towards the ICT industry and fulfilment of the Second Republic’s Education 5.0 vision.
In the blockbuster movie, Ramsey is a great programmer who managed to make a software that could hack into any security camera in that town.
In the real world, on the grounds of Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) there is Mukudzeishe Dhihwa (19) a Ramsey kind of girl in the in the making studying a four-year Information Assurance and Security programme.
“I was inspired by Ramesy’s capabilities. I loved the way they people called the software god’s eye since it could see everything. A lot of people wanted it and were willing to spend money on it.
“I realised if a woman put her mind on something she can do it wholeheartedly and she can create something huge,” she declared in an interview with the Youth Interactive.
She continued, “This is what inspired me to enrol for the Information Assurance and Security programme which focuses on the management and protection of knowledge, information, and data. My drive is to use programming skills for ethical hacking to protect data from unauthorised access.
However, Mukudzeishe’s fascination with technology has its roots in the family business.
“I was born in a strong ICT family and had access to computers when I was still an infant. But for programming I started when I was around the age 8 or 9 years. In those early days I was inspired by my father who is the founder of Mukonotronics, an elearning start-up into tech after seeing him around computers all the time. That made me interested in knowing more about them. As I grew up, my passion for computers also grew and always I envied people I see on television coding. I felt like they were speaking to a whole different language to the computer and wanted to be one of them.”
Besides wanting to be the next generation geek, Mukudzeishe has the burning the ambition of wanting to effect technological developments.
“I want to change the current economy of Zimbabwe for the better by investing in tech because tech is the future, I want to grow part of the future. After college I want to make security systems for different companies and individuals around the world.
“In the same way I have mentioned Ramsey from the ‘Fast and Furious’ made a system that could access any system camera, I want to make security systems to protect people, companies and the country.
“At college we are currently learning about Technoprenuership which is enterprenuership in the field of technology. This module teaches us to start business and have innovative thinking as you are learning.
“So my mind is already set on being a technoprenuer after finishing my degree,” she said.
But all has not been rosy in the field. Mukudzeishe said; “People are not really accepting girls to the IT realm, as most girls traditionally turn out to be accountants, lawyers, doctors and teachers.
“The conversations usually go like this ‘Ohhh you’re in university that’s great, what programme are you taking?”, I answer them then the feedback is ‘ohhhh inoita nezvei, hooo, inga macourse ango wanda wanda”, (ohhh what is it all about, yoh, it seems the course are now just too many).
“I feel demotivated at times by these statements and feel like my course hasn’t really been accepted by the community or that a female would take up such a job. Through it all I keep pushing because I see a bright future for myself. I have always wanted to be a tech girl.
Mukudzei further explains her never give up philosophy; “Technology is the future. In the same way that women had to fight to get out of the house to work for themselves, we need to fight off the economy to be able to work late hours to achieve great success. Fight off all obstacles for the greater good. Women can lead in tech too.”
And her advice to fellow girl child; “When you have a passion for something don’t lose faith in yourself just because the economy is tough. Keep fighting and moving forward and one day you’ll get rewarded.
“Personally, am still at the beginning of my journey. Many obstacles will come my way but am mentally prepared to overcome them and be the Ramsey of Zimbabwe,” she declared.
Online Reporter