adminLatwell Nyangu
TODAY is International Women’s Day – a day dedicated to all women across the globe.
We spoke to some of our leading women yesterday and this is what they said:
Philanthropist and show host, Mai Chisamba
“It’s a good day, we feel loved. And this is good since it’s an international day meaning it doesn’t segregate. Be it a woman in Africa or Europe, we are one. The world has become a global village and no woman should be left out or left behind. As we embrace equity, we should not look down on ourselves.”
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Delta Corporation Limited General Manager – Corporate Affairs, Patricia Murambinda
“The International Women’s Day carries a lot of importance to both women and girls as it highlights the achievements of women, both past and present, who have helped build and mould our homes, culture, businesses, communities, the government and the country.
“There are still equity gaps across the globe in educational outcomes and student success metrics. Women and girls have less access to education and healthcare, too often lack economic autonomy and are under represented at decision-making levels.
“Women face quite a number of challenges, namely lack of resources, lack of information, lack of education, respect for cultural values and beliefs, and gender discrimination.”
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Radio Producer and Presenter, Rumbidzai Matinanga
“The month of March is a celebration of womanhood, the many hats worn by a woman are mother, aunt, business partner, permanent house help, wife. So, it’s a month not only to celebrate, but to embrace our feminism.
“It is one of the many positive gestures society does to validate the importance of the girl child. That affirmation is important to help the girl child accept nothing less than to be treated as a human being and know they have the same rights as any other human being
“We also want equal opportunities in the workplace. Recently, someone close to me lost their job after going on maternity leave. The government should have laws to protect women from such actions, and there should be equal pay for the same jobs.”
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Feli Nandi – Fashionista/artist
“International Women’s Day is very important to us as we get to be celebrated. I believe as women in the arts and in different walks of life, we face a lot of challenges every single day and are appreciated less.
“So having a day that remembers the effort we put in almost everything we do is very much appreciated. We feel honoured as women. I will be giving a 20 percent discount in our showrooms for our queens as a way of showing them how special they are.”
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Ekenia Chifamba, Shamwariyemwanasikana and girls rights movement activist
The women’s month is an important on our calendar. As the girl’s movement, this is the time we celebrate our gains, wins as girls we are the future leaders. We look critically at the agenda 2063. We look at the milestones that we have moved with the SGDS implementation. We are reminded of the struggle that we still have in terms of making sure that there are equal representations, opportunities for women. We celebrate gains at local and regional level. Our authorities have embraced these gains and we appreciate. Opportunities are being open up for women to be in many sectors as well as decision making. There is a lot that need to be done to participate at the same level with men.
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Enisia Mashusha (actress/theatre director)
International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration which calls for gender equality, it’s all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action
As Zimbabwe Leeds Community, I Enisia Mashusha (vice secretary) and Pemberai Mavunga (vice chairlady) will be joining other women at The Great Cyrus Hotel in Leeds.
We live in a world that priorities men and we saying let’s push women up as hard as we can and amplify our voices.
We will be using the celebration to admire the incredible woman around us, marvel how we have come together, networking with other women so that we can keep the conversation going and move even further in the direction of gender equality.
Women have been marginalised in the past, but new the global order presents women as a highly productive people, emerging as heads of households, communities and government level. They are leading in industries and business.
ZLC women are going to join in with other women at the international women’s day at the great Cyrus Hotel. This is a Leeds event organised by the wider black minority, and ethnic women.
It is just logical that we network with women from other communities to intensify the dots connectivity for maximum impact in championing women development and leadership.
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Sasha “Amadhuve” Lishomwa (musician/choreographer)
International Women’s Day is day I celebrate being a woman being me. It’s a day I look at our journey as female creatives and realise the playing field still needs to be levelled. Women need equal opportunities because we are equally good if not better than most of our male counterparts who are given opportunities.
Women’s day is a constant reminder to me of how our beauty and brains can create better world for all of us. We are the custodians of our culture and heritage as such we need to be celebrated not ridiculed.
However, there are some malcontents amongst us who are now engaging in drugs especially Mutoriro my advice to them is real queens don’t do drugs respect yourself enough not to even think about any form of substance abuse. True love and humility begins with us. We are the women we represent the better part of humanity. I will celebrate the day with a few of my female counterparts somewhere in Harare then finish off the day with my family as usual.
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Agatha Murudzwa (musician/entrepreneur)
I will celebrate International Women’s Day at work. Its high time women we emphasise the fact that we have to work for our families. Let’s those around us celebrate and enjoy our hard earned money not vice versa.
Online Reporter