adminin favour of men, thus constraining women’s participation in socio-economic development, Women’s University in Africa vice chancellor Professor Hope Sadza has said.
Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Australian Ambassador Matthew Neuhaus in Harare on Tuesday to mark the International Women’s Day, Professor Sadza said such a disparity was largely the reason why women were delegated to the informal sector.
In sub-Saharan Africa, one in three women were employed outside agriculture while only 29 percent of these were in managerial positions.
“African governments themselves have done very little to promote women’s participation in technical education, training and employment. Employers stereotyped attitudes (especially towards working mothers) regarding women’s abilities and competence in technical fields mean that few women are recruited.
“Silent discrimination and stereotyping also exists in many organisations, with the result that even women already in employment are not always given the opportunity to prove their worth,” she said.
Statistics showed that the gender parity index in tertiary education was 67, a figure considered low by international standards.
Dr Sadza also noted under-representation of women in science and technology and a clustering of women students in traditional female studies of arts, humanities and languages.
In Zimbabwe women made 29 percent of those in tertiary education and of that figure14 percent were in sciences.
“Today much of the decision-making on science and technology is male-dominated, often leaving out specific needs for women. This is particularly important in Africa where women still bear the burden of a labour-intensive work, and where women farmers, the majority in many cases use antiquated equipment for production and their access to markets and information is hampered by their lack of access to information technology,” said Dr Sadza, founder of the Women’s University in Africa.
Women attending the luncheon included Mrs Neuhaus, Minister of Regional Integration and International Co-operation Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, co-Minister of State in the organ for National Healing, Integration and Reconciliation Sekai Holland, Kingdom Holdings group chief executive Mrs Lynn Mukonoweshuro, lawyer Mrs Beatrice Mtetwa and other women from various sectors.
Ms Mtetwa challenged women to desist from
tabulating their challenges year-in-year out but to instead come up with solutions to the many problems, be they legal, political or economic that constrained their advancement.
Online Reporter