Online Reporter
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, [email protected]
A BULAWAYO woman is breaking barriers in the construction industry after boldly venturing into bricklaying and building, fields traditionally dominated by men.
Mitchell Rudanda (34), an architectural designer by profession, has defied gender stereotypes by establishing herself as a skilled builder despite initial resistance from family and society.
What began as curiosity while observing builders at work gradually turned into a passion that has seen her take on solo construction projects and inspire other young women to pursue practical skills.
“I fell in love with the art of building because I admired how builders could start a structure from scratch and transform it into something meaningful. At first, I would only practise bricklaying during my free time, but as I gained confidence, I realised I could actually do it professionally,” said Rudanda.
She said many people doubted her ability to cope with the physically demanding nature of construction work, including her father, who feared she would strain herself.
“My father would often come to where I was working to help because he believed the job was too strenuous for me. But over time, when my family saw that I had mastered the skill, they started joking that my great-grandfather, who was a renowned bricklayer, must have passed the talent on to me,” she said with a laugh.
Rudanda said humility played a key role in her learning journey as she had to learn from experienced artisans, some younger than her.
“One thing this journey taught me is that if you want to learn a skill, you must humble yourself. I listened carefully to fellow artisans and paid attention to every detail.
“That helped me grow and eventually pursue certification in the trade,” she said.
Rudanda has since completed several projects independently, including the construction of ablution facilities.
Beyond building structures, Rudanda is now focused on empowering young women and girls with vocational skills, especially those who may not excel academically but possess practical talents.
“I realised that there are many girls who are gifted with their hands but lack opportunities. My goal is to equip them with skills so that they can earn a living instead of staying idle at home,” she said.
“As women, we are patient by nature and that patience is important in construction work. The same patience used in motherhood or even applying make-up can also be applied in building.”
Despite her achievements, Rudanda said women in construction still face prejudice from some male clients and artisans.
“Because this is a male-dominated industry, women have to work twice as hard to earn the same respect as men. Some people still question our abilities, but I let my work speak for itself,” she said.
Rudanda credited her husband and family for supporting her through the challenges.
“If it were not for the encouragement from my husband and family, I might have given up a long time ago. Their support kept me going,” she said.
