The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
AS the country commemorates the first International Women’s Day since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged global sport, it has not been all doom and gloom for Zimbabwean sportswomen who have scored a number of achievements during the same period.
And naturally leading from the front was the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry who recorded new milestones in her new role as an administrator.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s day, tomorrow, is “Choose to Challenge” and Coventry and her colleagues in sport have made some achievements worthy of celebration by the nation.
Abigail Kawonza
Recently, Coventry was inducted into the African Union Sports Council Region 5’s Sports Hall of Fame.
She was among seven other personalities honoured by the African Union Sport Council Region 5 Council of Ministers.
In her post-induction interview, the minister appreciated the honour, describing it as special recognition in her career.
“It is a huge honour and very special to be recognised for my career to which I owe so many people.
“I was very lucky to have a long career as an athlete and it is due to so many people through my journey.”
The minister’s achievement comes as a huge milestone for women at large, as their presence is being felt in influential positions in sport.
On the same day that Coventry was being inducted, the Director of Sport in her ministry, Eugenia Chidhakwa, was appointed chairperson of the Technical and Development Commission for the region.
Affectionately known as “Iron Fist Lady of Sport”, Chidhakwa replaced Antonio Gomes of Angola as she became the first woman to occupy the position.
Chidhakwa said International Women’s Day this year is about recognising and applauding the impressive work that women have achieved despite Covid-19 limitations.
“It is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the many positive changes that have happened while committing ourselves more fully to the necessary structural and social changes.
Abigail Mnikwa
“Everyone comes from somewhere and no matter what position or level you are today it is just the beginning, we, therefore, need to adorn ourselves with integrity, empathy, humility, resilience, vision, positivity,” she said.
Chidhakwa is a former athlete who used to play netball, hockey and basketball before rising to be the first woman president of the Zimbabwe Tertiary Sports Union (ZITSU), former president of Women and Sport Foundation, former Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) board member and an ex-Zimbabwe Olympic Committee Board Member.
She is also the first Woman Chef de Mission African Games (2019) and the first woman to get a 10-year Recognition Award from AUSC Region 5.
Chidhakwa noted that most of the challenges women face in sport administration stem from traditional ethos and values.
“Such influences in my personal development and growth have caused hostilities and discrimination, particularly in the work environment.
“However, despite the circumstances, I have always carried the blanket of persistence and kept my gaze on my vision and personal objectives.
“It is not easy for women to balance home and work roles; it requires extra effort to be able to satisfy both because sport involves a lot of movement so I found it difficult”.
Chidhakwa had to make her family understand her roles in the work environment and its demands.
She reflected on her formative years when there were still limited numbers of women in positions of influence and this would leave most women at the mercy of men.
This set up, according to Chidhakwa, made women vulnerable to abuse.
Eugenia Chidhakwa
Zimbabwe Rugby Union’s chairperson for Women’s rugby, Abigail Mnikwa, was another achiever in the period under review, following her appointment to the Rugby Africa Women advisory sub-committee for leadership, training and conferences last month.
Apart from several administrative roles, Mnikwa has also served as the Rugby National team physiotherapist.
The World Rugby trainer also chairs ZRU’s Covid-19 Relief committee.
“Days like these come once in a year hence it is time to look back and celebrate what we have achieved, setting new goals for the year ahead. The sports environment is not very friendly to women but with more of us coming on board by the day, it is time to change the narrative altogether.
“The big lesson I have learnt in this journey is to convert our challenges into opportunities, upholding your principles and self-respect as an individual,’’ Mnikwa said.
Former rugby national team player and coach Abigail Kawonza was recently named on the Rugby Africa Women’s sub-committee on player welfare and participation.
Kawonza is also a ZRU board member, president of the Zimbabwe Rugby Referees Society, a member of the Zimbabwe Women’s Committee, World Rugby Officiating Educator and Activate Educator.
Her recent appointment comes as a demonstration of the remarkable effort she and her counterparts have invested in the once male-dominated domain.
Being one of the pioneers of women rugby in the country who at some point plied her trade in the National XVs and Sevens teams, Kawonza has achieved a lot in sports administration, but she is still raring to go.
