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Grace Mahora and Lesego Valela
Features Correspondents
This mindset: “women are not good drivers” has been drilled into the heads of many people in the country.
But things are changing and things do not function in binaries.
Since independence in 1980, there are several women who drive for a living, helping to build confidence that women, too, can drive.
All this, is thanks to the Government’s determination to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and to advance gender equality.
To demonstrate its commitment on gender equality and the empowerment of women, Zimbabwe has ratified and adopted various landmark agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as mainstreaming Sustainable Development Goal 5 which aims to “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.
As a result of these policies and action plans, more women are looking past stereotypes and driving through the underestimation.
It has not been easy and more women drivers and instructors believe the situations is getting better.
Eskina Mukamba (47), a Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) female bus driver says dreams can be achieved through consistency and perseverance towards one’s ambition.
Aspiration for sitting at the driver’s seat gave Mukamba more determination every moment she came across a female driver.
“As I grew up meeting female drivers, I craved being a mere driver because there were no female bus drivers by then,” she said.
Through sheer determination, Mukamba acquired her first licence in 2004 with no clue when she was going to buy a personal car.
She is now a holder of Classes 1, 2 and 4.
Mukamba managed to acquire Class 2 driver’s licence after grabbing the opportunity to train under a ZUPCO empowerment of women programme.
The state transport utility encouraged women above 30 years with Class 2 and Class 4 to apply for training as female bus drivers.
Mukamba has been driving buses for seven years, criss-crossing the country’s highways.
This feat, has made her one of the best female bus drivers in Zimbabwe.
“I have been a bus driver since 2015 until now because l really enjoy my job,” she said.
“Currently, I am plying the Harare-Norton route. It’s never easy for women. I have to sleep inside the bus at a police station where it’s a bit safer for me.”
Her working hours as a bus driver are conducive for they allow her to rest and prepare to ferry passengers to and from work.
Being the only one who can drive a bus has been a challenge for Mukambas’ family to accept.
“It was very hard for my family to accept me as a bus driver. In my clan, I am the only one who has managed to acquire a Class 1 drivers’ licence,” she said.
“Even up to now I keep on persisting with my husband to get one but he is very reluctant and relies on me as the family driver at home.
“All he does is to motivate me to keep on driving.”
Driving has lots of good and bad memories for her.
“I will never forget my trip from Mutare to Chiredzi before I got used to driving long distances.
“Whenever I checked to see what was behind me via the view mirror, I felt my heart pounding as never before, accompanied by fear to the extent of failing to control the steering. My hands were trembling with fear.
“It was fortunate because during that time I was accompanied by the bus loader, who opted to help me familiarise with bus stops for that route since it was new. He noticed the fear and comforted me during travelling until I got used to it.”
There are nine more female drivers at ZUPCO excluding Mukamba making it a male-dominated environment.
Mukamba encourages women to stop looking down upon themselves because they are capable of doing anything that can be done by men.
“Women should not look down upon themselves, for nothing is impossible if they try harder. Anything that can be done by men, women are also capable of doing it,” she said.
“Use the opportunity of equal rights that is promoted in our country and strive hard in order to achieve your dream.”
At times, Mukamba also faces some challenges from the society.
She said some men fear boarding her bus whenever they see her on the steering wheel.
“At first it was a challenge to load the bus I was driving at the terminus because people lacked trust upon seeing a lady on the steering wheel. Most men out of fear and ignorance opted for another bus,” she said.
“As time went on, I received more positive compliments from passengers. Most men felt it was far more safer to board a bus driven by a female driver because, they said, women are more cautious than men. They said they felt much safer.”
Genuine acceptance from the society keeps Makumba going in a male dominated environment.
“The way people accept and compliment my career as a female driver keeps me going as it makes me braver and braver each day,” she said.
“This continued support means a lot for me such that I will never quit the job.”
As a driver Mukamba has changed other people’s lives who thought that it was impossible to achieve a dream because one was a woman.
“Some admire me at work with the hope that their children will do the same in the future if they follow my steps,” said Mukamba.
Alice Kudzaishe Manhanga, 55, a mother of three and an instructor at the Central Mechanical and Equipment Department(CMED) is another shining example of women breaking barriers in the driving and instructing sector.
She got her driving licence in 1986 and in 1988 she started working in driving schools before joining CMED where she has been a senior driving instructor for 12 years now.
She had the passion to drive ever since she was young.
“At times it is hectic because every hour I meet a different person with a different attitude and mind-set and as an instructor you have to be strong to handle different characters,” she said.
“My day starts at 7am up until 6pm in the evening. It’s quite demanding.”
She is also a class one driver who worked very hard to also get a defensive driver’s licence.
Her family has been very supportive when it comes to her profession and one of her daughters has also followed her steps in getting a defensive driver’s licence.
“Women have a big role to play in the driving and instructing sector. Many people prefer to be trained by women because they are patient,” she said.
“Women should not hesitate to acquire drivers’ licences since this can help them to do a lot of chores such as shopping and taking children to school. It makes their lives a bit easier.”
She fired a parting shot.
“Women, you have hands and you have feet,.Everything is possible, therefore, go and learn how to drive,” the CMED instructor said.
“Women should stand up and do what is better for their lives.”
Online Reporter