By Ndanatsiwa Tagwireyi
Over the years, some women in Zimbabwe have been making significant strides in challenging patriarchy and taking leadership positions that enable them to be part of development processes. They have managed to strike a balance of not limiting themselves to the kitchen, child minding and unpaid care work. With these women empowerment advancements, this year’s International Women’s day ran under the theme ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid 19 world.”
For Young Miners Foundation’s (YMF) Chief of Strategy and Operations Officer Tafadzwa Sharlene Makunere, representing YMF and Zimbabwe at the just ended United Nations Youths Innovators Design Boot Camp is a major milestone in ensuring women inclusion in sustainable development in Zimbabwe and beyond. This is so as women empowerment and equality is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
“During the UN Boot Camp, I was interested in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology because my main concern was the application of AI Technology in mining processes,” Makunere told Women’s Weekly Journal. “I picked that through collaborative work, we can work on our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address the global challenges that include inequality, climate change, environmental degradation and affordable clean energy.”
The UN Boot Camp which was held virtually was a platform for innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities of emerging technologies in areas of artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, as well as health technology. Makunere rubbed shoulders with other like-minded youths from Congo Brazaville, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Tunisia, France among others.
“I believe Africa and the world need youth innovators that think outside the box with creative minds to develop strategic and sustainable solutions that may save the continent,” the youthful leader told Women’s Weekly Journal. “Being part of the UN 2021 Youth Innovators Boot Camp enabled me to team up with other young people across Africa to help develop concepts and designs towards a resilient and green Africa.”
The 26 year old Makunere who also heads YMF Green Mining Council consisting of environmentalists dealing with environment and safety issues like sustainable mining practices believes women have to shrug off stiff competition in leadership positions to stand out. She told Women’s Weekly Journal that YMF has moulded her to become a strategic young leader in mining operations especially in the field of environment citing that it does this to many young miners in Zimbabwe.
“Females can take up space once presented with the opportunity and in a male dominated field like mining, we need other fearless women to rise above the stereotypes because there is definitely a space for them too,’’ Makunere who is also an environmental expert with Zimbabwe Artisanal Small Scale Miners Association (ZASMA) said.
The ambitious leader also dreams of taking up more influential positions in Zimbabwe and beyond as she climbs the leadership ladder.
“I anticipate to break more innovative grounds in the mining sector to pave more way for women inclusivity in mining and also to make it in the Zimbabwe Mining Affairs Board,” Makunere exclusively revealed to the Women’s Weekly Journal.” “From a young age, I have always been a fighter and have been placed in leadership positions.”
Makunere also told Women’s Weekly Journal that: “Women should be confident in themselves and know what they are capable of and through hard work, they can definitely reach their goals and beat their targets as women are powerhouses that are capable of doing great in the mining sector.”