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Ruth Butaumocho-African Agenda
Africa and Zimbabwe yesterday joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day.
This year’s theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.
Globally, the increasing number and use of mobile phones and internet connectivity has facilitated access to health information, education and various services.
However, the people who are most likely to benefit from the benefits of digital products are least likely to have access to them.
This is especially true for women, who are being disproportionately affected by the digital divide, leaving them well behind.
This digital exclusion is already being felt in several African countries, where women trail behind in internet usage. As a result, they have been overshadowed in the digital economy.
According to a report from the World Economic Forum, globally, women are 21 percent less likely to be online compared to men. In developing countries 50 percent of women do not have access to internet or digital products.
Despite the challenges that women face in different spaces, hundreds of women in Zimbabwe have been able to carve their own niche in business, politics and other spheres of influence, a feat which has been made possible by President Mnangagwa under the Second Republic, through his mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind”.
As part of Women’s Month and beginning this week, we will be featuring stories of phenomenal women who have contributed positively to Zimbabwe, in the process pushing boundaries and excelling in their areas of specialisation, although little is known about them by the general public.
Susan Peters
Ms Susan Peters of Gibson Investments is among few yesteryear business women who have become beacons of success, having been in business for more than five decades, shrugging off challenges associated with running a viable business entity.
From humble beginnings of watering a family garden to sustain the family while growing up in Sakubva, Mutare, in the 1960s and 70s, Ms Peters has become a symbol of success in business.
Mrs Sue Peters
While the majority of her peers, whom she started businesses with back in the 1980s have since retired or gone under owing to turbulences common in business, hers is still thriving.
She has reinvented herself over the last four decades to suit the ever changing economic environment, which now requires agility, innovation and the use of technology to overcome a litany of challenges that businesspeople world over encounter.
A former supermodel from the 80s, Ms Peters has spread her tentacles and is now into tourism and hospitality, fitness, beauty as well as real estate. She runs various businesses in Harare and across Zimbabwe, a feat she says she owes to God.
She runs the Body Active Gym located at the Mashonaland Turf Club Race Course in Borrowdale and Mutare, respectively, a restaurant, clothing shops, Ebony Hair salons in Zimbabwe as well as several factories that she is renting out.
She is also the proprietor of Murambi East Villa and Spa, located in Mutare. The boutique hotel offers various services and facilities 24-hour accommodation, wedding venue and conferencing facilities throughout the year.
It against that background that Ms Peters last week walked away as the platinum winner in the Businesswoman of the Year category at this year’s Megafest Eastern Region business awards held in Mutare.
Looking back, Mrs Peters admits that it was not easy to venture into business the time she started owing to racial and lack of appreciation for women who were regarded as second class citizens, before and soon after Zimbabwe’s independence.
Despite the gender dynamics which made it impossible for women to excel in business, she has remained resolute in her endeavours to set up a business empire that has stood the test of time and has also sustained her family over the years.
“Women have to keep pushing, work hard and strengthen their relations in the business circles, if they are to succeed,” she said.
Ms Peters asserted that supportive legislations that advocate for women’s empowerment, such as quota allocations in various sectors have been critical elements in improving easy of doing business for the female populace in the country.
Lauretta Wanyanya
Having spent 30 years as a retail banking expert with one of the leading financial institutions in Zimbabwe, Ms Lauretta Wanyanya decided to hang her boots and venture into the world to pursue other opportunities.
Dealing with figures, business executives and individuals made her realise that her life had become mundane, and she needed to explore other options and pursue other avenues, while creating time for philanthropy and serving various communities.
That decision opened an avalanche of opportunities, and she immediately settled on nurturing kids from a tender age.
Ms Wanyanya now runs a junior school, Kids R Kids Junior School, opening for her limitless windows of opportunities, which she did not know existed.
The junior school, which started in 2018, has grown from leaps to bounds and now have branches in Harare and Seke.
While many may wonder what could have inspired such a robust switch of fields, it was a smooth transition for Ms Wanyanya, who had always wanted to serve communities in whatever way she could, but it was not possible before because of tight working schedule at the bank.
Looking at other alternative, she opted for running a school, which immediately fitted into her aspirations.
“I am passionate about kids. I am super glad that I am living my dream. I feel this was a real calling for me so I do not mind waking up at 4:30am every morning to go to the school and fulfil my God-sent duty.
A holder of Master of Commerce, Strategic Management from Great Zimbabwe University, Ms Wanyanya started off with an Early Childhood Centre.
In no time, enrolment increased, as parents sought good learning institutions, where their children could attain good academic education and life skills.
The increased enrolment and the encouragement from parents to expand, gave birth to Kids R Kids and the rest in history.
Since 2018, it has been a roll-coaster for Ms Wanyanya who has had to divide her time between running the school and developing herself to meet the growing demand of discerning leaders who should easily adapt and innovate to emerging trends of doing business in the 21st century.
Ms Wanyanya concedes that despite the satisfaction she derives from her newly found passion, it has not been an easy journey.
“It has not been an easy road to travel, and there have been times when I even thought of quitting.
“There are a number of barriers along the way especially if you are a woman. People tend to look down on women in business,” she recently revealed.
However, her relentless passion to serve and nurture young kids keeps her going.
“I am also inspired by other women in business. Indeed nothing is impossible if you remain focused,” she enthused.
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