DR B.S.S.DLAMINI

 

 

 

AT THE SWAZILAND BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2012

 

 

 

AT THE ROYAL SWAZI CONVENTION CENTRE

 

WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Honourable Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade

 

South African Businesswoman of the Year 2011, Dr Nondumiso Mzizana

 

Managing Director of Nedbank

 

Chief Executive of REDI

 

Awards Contestants

 

Distinguished Guests

 

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

 

 

 

 

Another year has gone by and I am delighted to see that the passage of time has not dulled the enthusiasm there is for this highly important event on the national calendar – the Swaziland Business Woman of the Year Awards.

 

 

 

It is fair, in the first instance, to remind ourselves why we should continue to have a separate event for men and women. It could be argued that there is no longer the need to distinguish between the sexes when it comes to matters such as business activity or entrepreneurial performance. There is already ample evidence that, whereas a woman may not be able to sprint as fast as a man, or throw a discus as many metres, physical differences have far less significance in the business arena. Characteristics such as education, skill and work ethic are considerably more relevant.

 

 

 

Indeed, I would venture to suggest that, as a general rule, women have proved equally efficient and particularly so when it comes to multi-tasking - an observation I have made, without fear or favour, on at least one previous occasion.

 

 

 

It is, in fact, not an issue of competence but more a matter of perception and tradition – where it was said for centuries that a woman’s place was in the home. Business was for men, just as hunting had been in the early days of civilization. There is no better illustration of the obsolescence of that perception than to see a woman behind the controls of a modern fighter aircraft.

 

 

 

But while societies, including our own, are moving steadily away from the chauvinistic attitudes of yesteryear, the playing field is still far from level. In Swaziland I believe we have made substantial strides in the right direction with the very prominent emergence of women in business, the Civil Service and Parliament. But, whilst the ratio of women to men in Swazi business compares favourably with other countries on the African continent there is still an imbalance.

 

 

 

We need, of course, to bear in mind – and I think the word bear is quite apt - that while women are involved in child-bearing and child-nursing it will never be easy for them to compete effectively with men, and fully balance up the numbers. A study in the United States by international consultants, McKinsey and Company, found that while women fill half of entry level professional jobs, only 28% of top jobs then get occupied by women. Indeed, 54% of top women executives in the study were childless. Clearly, women find it hard to combine family responsibilities with the ultra-long working hours and the “anytime, anywhere” culture of senior corporate jobs.

 

 

In the final analysis, we want our women to have an equal chance, and we wish our young female schoolchildren to have role models to look up to, and this competition serves those objectives very well. By recognizing the contribution that women are making in business, the Swaziland Business Woman of the Year Awards event inspires others to emulate them.

 

 

 

It is important to remind ourselves of the valuable role of the Junior Achievement Programme in our high schools. In giving young students hands-on entrepreneurial experience it is making a significant contribution to the development of a sustainable entrepreneurial culture in the country. It is a culture that sees enterprise – the growing of crops, the manufacture of goods, the provision of services – as a natural and desirable activity. A pleasure rather than a chore. And with female students being an integral part of the Junior Achievement programme, the entrepreneurial culture can evolve in full gender equity.

 

 

 

The Awards serve a further important purpose. They acknowledge the very real pleasure derived from recognition – recognition of achievement in enterprise thus creating a reputation which stands the recipient in very good stead for the future.

 

 

 

The Awards clearly achieve a number of objectives and, in creating competition, they have a positive influence on the general entrepreneurial standards of the competitors. From competition comes excellence.

 

 

And then there is, what I have called before - the business magnet – where the public success of women competitors in this event attracts the attention of many women who are thus motivated to follow suit. Yes, the material reward that may come from business success is a powerful incentive. But in so many cases it goes deeper than that, where the fundamental motive is to make an impact, make a difference.

 

 

 

The Gala Evening does, in itself, perform the highly useful function of raising a considerable amount of money which is then channeled into the development of future business leaders through bursaries for post-graduate studies. This is an excellent investment, creating a generation of businesswomen who, we hope, will develop businesses and corporate careers within Swaziland, and inject dynamism into our economy.

 

 

The Awards continue to make the distinction, by having separate Entrepreneur and Corporate categories, between the self-employed entrepreneur and the individual who opts for a career as an employee in the corporate world. This is a pragmatic approach since these are very different, though mutually supportive, spheres of business activity. And whilst the knowledge and skills required, and thus the criteria by which they are judged, will vary, both are needed in a vibrant and healthy economy.

 

 

 

The third award among the hardy annuals is the honorary award for commitment to social development, recognizing the importance of that dimension of national development. And it is pleasing to note the arrival of two additional categories – the Emerging Business Leader and the Woman of Influence in Government, the latter award representing recognition of good work done by women in Government.

 

 

In short, there is a place for both sexes in the world of enterprise – indeed, all professional and business activity - and there is a continuing need to highlight the very significant role that woman can, and should, play in the economic and social development of our country. And, in so doing, remind us of the obligation to provide equal opportunity, as clearly articulated by our Constitution.

 

 

As we proceed with implementation of the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) we are mindful of the crucial role of small, medium and micro-scale enterprises (SMME) in the quest for rapid economic growth. And within the new Investor Roadmap, launched by His Majesty in April of this year, a high priority is given to providing greater opportunity, capacity-building and access to finance to boost SMME development. We have already seen women to be active and resourceful in the SMME sector and we look forward to seeing them participating fully in, and benefiting from the ERS programme.

 

 

It is my privilege to welcome and congratulate our visitor, South African Businesswoman of the Year for 2011, Dr Nondumiso Mzizana who has been so generous in gracing this occasion. In Dr Mzinzana we see another highly motivating role model.

 

 

It is also a great pleasure to add words of congratulation to the ladies who are the finalists here this evening. And while the top honours go to the respective winners of each category I must emphasise that you are all winners. You have all proceeded to the finals of a national competition and can feel justly proud of yourselves.

 

 

The project managers, REDI, should also be congratulated and thanked. They are a prominent home-grown consultancy, now synonymous with this, and similar, events. Indeed, their versatility is illustrated by their recent hosting of Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ms Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

 

 

 

I thank also the main sponsor, Nedbank, for its support. It is reassuring that a leading commercial bank takes such a close interest in national entrepreneurial development. The business community, as judged by its support, has also clearly given the thumbs-up to the event. I do trust that, as it cements its place as an important catalyst in entrepreneurial development in the Kingdom, this competition will ensure that its judging criteria continue to recognize the importance of social and environmental issues in these modern times.

 

 

I conclude by thanking you for enabling me to share this most stimulating evening where we share the joy and satisfaction of these worthy competitors in the Swaziland Business Woman of the Year Awards.

 

 

 

Thank you.