Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
MBIRA player and spiritualist Diana “MaNgwenya” Samkange says women should stop using the gender tag as an excuse for failure.
As she turns 37, the former 2BG Band member says many women lose focus by seeking sympathy through gender labels.
“I posted something on my social media handles challenging most ladies out there to work hard and I still insist that we can do better with a little bit of focus, determination and hard work.
“I am one of the people who have been telling my peers to stop hiding under these tags like ‘I am a woman’ and ‘I am female’ which has limited most of us from achieving success.
“We need to defy that and work hard for progress’ sake and stop being cry-babies.
“We are now faced by the biggest risk of raising weak and unproductive ladies if we don’t correct our past.”
She added:
“I have learnt that the world can be cruel at times and I have also encountered issues that might require me to write a whole book if I were to recall the horrors I went through
“There are some things that I cannot share now but certainly, one day, I will do that and help others.”
MaNgwenya says she now wants to channel her energy toward national service.
“I’ve come to a point where serving my nation and changing the narrative for the girl child’s success should be my top priority.
“I want to be remembered as the big sister who was there for others, but a change of mindset is needed.”
She is also a farmer and fashion designer.
“We need to work hard and we should not put all our eggs in one basket.
“We need to go the extra mile and defy gender disparities by performing roles that our male counterparts are perceived to own.
“I don’t want to entertain people who hide under the tags ‘I am a woman’ and ‘I am a female’, which have limited them from achieving their goals as they seek public sympathy that would never change our lives.”
Mathew Masinge