Women’s rights movement ushers opportunities for women to thrive
By Regis Nhumba
As we are about to commemorate the International Women’s Day (March 8), I am humbled by the massive work that has been laid out by the women’s rights movement in advancing and promoting women’s rights. Women rights have enabled women to cross boundaries that were primitive and constraining, resulting in many women occupying key decision-making positions. Most women in Zimbabwe now have a clue about what their rights are and place much importance on them.
It is inspiring to see female leaders in political positions like Opah Muchinguri the Minister of Defense and War Veterans Affairs and Joyce Mujuru, the former Vice-President of Zimbabwe.
As a recent graduate from the Midlands State University, I always felt encouraged to see a lot of women holding high positions at the University. This was a clear indication that women were heeding the call to actively participate and assert their right to education, financial inclusion and leadership.
While I was at university, the Dean of students was a lady who ensured that the girl child safety was a priority in as much as every student is equal in terms of the challenging issue of accommodation. She did this without nepotism or any favouritism. Thus therefore taking her leadership position very seriously so that she can be effective to every student.
I was a student in the faculty of Social Sciences pursuing a degree in Psychology. The Chairperson was also lady called Mrs. N. Ncube. On top of that, three quarters of all the lecturers who taught me for the whole four years were female. This gave me motivation to work hard so that I could achieve my dreams, knowing that there was nothing to stop me from progressing.
One of the areas that women at the university were crossing borders was the Students Representative Council (SRC). For a long time, the council was a preserve for male students. This was because girls thought campaigning to be in power was only for man. In my second year at the University the situation took a positive turn. Girls started to campaign for positions in the council. When one girl is courageous and breaks the walls, all the other girls find strength to break through from their shells. Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu (23) is currently the Student Representative Council president and a few other girls are members in the board.
This brave move opened eyes of other girls showing that it is their right to be leaders and to achieve good things and set an example to be recorded in history. Right now at Midlands State University almost every club is effectively chaired by a lady as they have the zeal to lead and also achieve.
