ZBC CEO scales new heights
Story by Abigirl Tembo.
A distinguished group of 50 Zimbabwean women have been honoured for excelling in different sectors of the economy.
The outstanding individuals were honoured by the Women Corporate Directors Network Zimbabwe in Harare this Friday.
Their resilience, perseverance, and exceptional leadership skills have not gone unnoticed.
It is a distinguished group of top 50 women from across the country who were honoured in Harare this Thursday.
Among them was ZBC Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Adelaide Chikunguru.
“This is a prestigious recognition I never thought in my life I would be in the same platform as the former auditor general, Mrs. Chari. She is one of the luminaries. It’s still sinking that I am in the same room with these phenomenal women in Zimbabwe. We feel honored that our work is being recognized. There is a long way to go, but it’s encouraging when your work is recognized. It’s much more difficult for women to get to these positions. It has taken a little grit and determination to be where we are,” she said.
Old Mutual head of strategy, Ms. Kudakwashe Mswaka, said, “As a woman, as a boss, this award that I have received today as one of 50 inspirational women in Zimbabwe means work hard, be determined, and you will get there. Everything you are going through, people are watching, and people are learning from you, and you are changing lives.”
“I am very excited to be recognized for the work I do, especially in the energy industry where I work. There are times when you can be suppressed because you are a woman in a male-dominated industry, but you have to keep pushing,” said Mrs. Lorraine Ariminyu from Greatview Solar.
Former Auditor General, Mrs. Mildred Chiri, also received a long-time achievement award for her dedication and long service to the country.
“It’s an honor to receive this award, and I am truly humbled to be received this. Mine has been a long journey. There were moments of joy and sometimes sadness. I had to make decisions, and in most cases, the answers were needed like yesterday. When I joined, the audit report was behind by five years, so you can imagine the pressure,” she said.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Chief Director for Gender Planning and Policy in the office of the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa challenged women to continue working hard.
Chief Director, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development, Mrs. Lilian Matsika, said, “Today we are here to celebrate women who have been fighting and pushing for positive change in their respective fields. The event we are gathered for here is evidence that women can lead and can participate effectively in all sectors of the economy.”
“The awards are meant to celebrate women who have excelled in different disciplines in their places of work. We are really saying that when we honor women, it is actually a first step towards leadership development, capacity building, philanthropy, as well as ethical practice. We are looking at people who have shown resilience in terms of corporate governance, and innovativeness. We are also looking at people that have persevered against all odds to achieve excellence,” said the Chairperson of Women Corporate Directors Network Zimbabwe, Ms. Lucy Marowa.
Some of the women who walked away with prizes include the City of Kwekwe Town Clerk, Dr. Lucia Mkandla; Ministry of Mines Director, Engineer Mercy Manyuchi; as well as permanent secretaries Engineer Gloria Magombo, Dr. Beaullah Chirume, and Ambassador Rudo Chitinga.
