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'KZN DoT has Working Model for True Woman Empowerment'A progressive women’s workshop has cited the KwaZulu Natal Department of Transport as one provincial government structure that is running meaningful women-empowerment programs in the country, writes Igalelo’s Simphiwe Mkhize. Addressing young women in a workshop organized by the Black Lawyers Association under the theme – Young Women’s Vision for Society, held at the Royal Hotel in Pietermaritziburg recently, local independent psychologist, Mrs Qhakazile Gambu, pointed out that the KZN Department of Transport’s Zibambele and Vukuzakhe programmes were giving women opportunities to become economically viable in their own right. Mrs Gambu who heads a company known as the Q. Gambu & Associates, told the women that the DOT had an exemplary model for the province. She explained: "That Department – God bless the woman who brought Minister S’bu Ndebele to the world – that Department already has a structure that seeks to promote women as capable business people. They have what is called Zibambele and Vukuzakhe. Zibambele is a poverty alleviation and job-creation initiative for destitute rural women. They maintain rural roads." She added: ‘I am told that Zibambele will soon be launching their own savings club to help each other grow. And there is a Vukuzakhe Emerging Contractor programme. This programme also includes women - women who run road and bridge construction companies - women who are breadwinners and employers in their communities.’ Referring to the stoicism often exhibited by women, Mr Gambu recalled: ‘There is a woman from Newcastle whose husband died in a taxi accident. Her husband was on his way to sorting out tax forms after having been awarded a bridge construction contract by the DOT. When her husband died, she did not give up and lost hope. She stood up and picked up the spear.’ Mrs Gambu asserted: ‘Today she can stand up and say: "If my husband were to wake up he would be proud of me – he would think of me as an asset in his family, he would think of me as a business companion and a true partner socially and economically."’ She concluded: ‘Women have a right to happiness and freedom from want. If we unite and plan together – if we help each other and be true to the call to women economic emancipation – we will face the HIV/AIDS crisis better, we will be better caregivers, better providers – we will be what we ought to be: reliable Mothers and partners to our male counterparts.’ The Black Lawyers Association workshop was characterized by a disarming frankness of women’s perception of themselves and their society. They touched on pertinent issues that were a stumbling block to community development, and women empowerment in particular. The women decried the slow implementation and/or non-existence of meaningful community development programmes in society. In their view, societal challenges included a general lack of proper understanding and experience in community development work, coupled with petty jealousies, a degradation of moral values, greed and corruption.
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