THREE women landed top posts in the just ended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Students Representative Council, marking a significate shift on male dominance which has been recorded at the institution over the years.
Annah Sande, Ruvimbo Gwatidzo and Petronella Mabika, broke the gender barriers to take charge at the powerful UZ SRC after winning the harmonised elections ran on the 4th and the 25th of June 2021.
The trio joined an elite list of young women who have braved stereo types and the harsh campaigning environment to claim leadership positions in a male dominated space.
Since its establishment in 1952, the University of Zimbabwe SRC has for the first time, seen three of seats in the Secretariat being held female students.
Sande made history by becoming the first female spokesperson where she holds the External, Information and Publicity portfolio.
The achievement falling on the heels of the SRC electing its first female president in the last polls has been applauded as a milestone in reaching gender equality especially in key areas of decision making and implementation of policies.
“It is a statement of intention, a move that shows young women are not only capable of leading but are also ready to take up leadership spaces, I am happy,” said Chengeto Chidi a media student at the college.
Sande is a member of Tag A Life International which invests in grooming young women into becoming leaders.
The trio of Sande, Gwatidzo and Mabika put their names in the history books by breaking the record after ensuring that women get 30% representation in SRC.
Gwatidzo said she hoped her election would inspire female leaders to push until they achieve 50/50 representation in the SRC with their male counterparts.
Story by Annah Sande