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Rejoyce Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO women are fighting back. Not against men, no. They are fighting against poverty and economic disempowerment and their fight is now “televised” thanks to Pusheka Girl, a woman-focused empowerment movement that was founded by two women.
Makaita (27) also popularly known as “Maxy” and Tatenda Tekere (31) got tired of complaining that this planet is a man’s world and formed Pusheka Girl to help girls and women lead better lives through employment and running their businesses.
Besides the empowerment movement that they have, the Tekere sisters also run their businesses. Maxy is a professional nail technician and also has a nail salon while Tatenda runs a bridal boutique.
“We are trying to cut down the pull-down syndrome that is there in women. We want to bring unity in women so that they learn to help and uplift each other. Most of the people on top of the hierarchy are men so we are empowering women to also thrive to get there as it is very much possible,” said Tatenda.
Pusheka Girl is a community of female business owners. The organisation believes that women should support each other in their endeavours. They occasionally hold expos where women sell their products and services.
When they are not on the ground, Pusheka Girl uses their social media platforms to champion the rights of women and to advertise businesses of Bulawayo women.
Tatenda said this is how some small businesses make it when they get the required attention from the public.
Tatenda says just like the name of the organisation implies, young women should keep pushing to achieve their goals and make it in life.
“We believe that every woman is unique and powerful in her own right. We also believe that every woman has the right to be treated with fairness and dignity,” said Tatenda.
Maxy revealed that they are the only members in their family who took after their late father — he was an entrepreneur.
“We decided to venture into entrepreneurship with my sister because we had the same mindset of what we wanted to do in life and enjoy it at the same time. From all our other siblings we are the only ones that took after our late father who was also entrepreneurship driven,” said Maxy.
Maxy said they were taught to love and support each other through thick and thin and this is what has kept them going.
“Of course, there are conflicts among siblings but my sister and I rarely get into serious fights where we end up not talking to each other. This is because we are mature about it and the family values that we grew up with do not allow it,” said Maxy.
She said as women support one another in their hustles they should be only after the product and services they want but not the person so that there is no room for any segregation.
Not only are the Tekere sisters entrepreneurs but they also work in giving back to the community. They work with community organisations that take care of the less privileged.
Pusheka Girl has been donating to the less privileged, various organisations that house people living with disabilities and also in orphanages in and out of Bulawayo.–@ReeSibanda
Online Reporter