STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI
AT THE SWAZILAND BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
AT THE ROYAL SWAZI SPA CONVENTION CENTRE
WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER 2014
Director of Ceremonies
Honourable Deputy Prime Minister
Honourable Ministers
Winner of Women in Business Ms Zaakira Mohamed
Sponsors
Chief Executive Officer of REDI
Judges
Contestants
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
History is rich with examples of outstanding achievements by women. Florence Nightingale performed enormous feats of nursing care in the Crimean War of the 1850s. Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize on two occasions and was hugely influential in the world of chemistry. The African-American, Rosa Parks,stood up for her rights by remaining seated in a whites-only bus, and in so doing, sparked the long-overdue Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Harriet Tubman was a former slave who escaped from slavery herself at the age of 29 and helped many others to obtain their freedom.
But, despite the occurrence of extraordinary achievements such
as these, rarely did we see, anywhere in the world, women officially gaining, or being appointed to, positions of leadership, although unofficially, and behind the scenes, many women have been known to wield great influence at the highest levels over the past centuries.
The gender gap has its origins in the quite plausible circumstances of ancient times. Wrestling with a wild pig in order to put food on the table was hardly a function a man would expect a woman to carry out. Similarly the maternal functions of nurturing a young child were, until quite recent times, and in most societies, definitely no-go areas for men. With man the physically stronger of the two sexes, that original and quite sensible allocation of duties etched itself into clear, and accepted, lines of demarcation. The man controlled everything, from the family to the business environment and to the political structures and activities of the respective countries.
What it boiled down to was that in most societies the position regarding women was crystal clear. When they were not producing babies and tending them, they were expected to wash, cook and clean the house. Usually at the same time. Thus, perhaps, was born and bred that famous skill that made woman what we now know to be the formidable multi-tasker!
Up until modern times the somewhat atavistic attitude of the male was – if the woman could not hunt or fight she could not expect to be rated as equal to men in the big theatre of life.
Indeed, even today, many women across the globe will accept a subordinate role in the key areas of business and politics. But the vast majority do not concede that. And according to the World Economic Forum, in a bulletin issued only two days ago – “the Gender Gap is getting smaller.” The Index that is used continues to track the strong correlation between a country’s gender gap and its national competitiveness. Because women account for one-half of a country’s potential talent base, a nation’s competitiveness in the long term depends significantly on whether, and how, it educates and utilizes its women. And the word “utilisation” is especially relevant in the business context.
And if you look across the waves of the Atlantic Ocean to North America, United States politics has many women in senior positions, and a lady called Mary Barra this year became the first CEO of the United States automobile industry, while Marilyn Hewson is in her first year as CEO of Lockheed, the world’s largest defence contractor.
A revolution has taken place. A quiet and peaceful one, of course, although in the early stages of recognising the importance and role of women, many lost their lives in such activities as getting the right to vote along with men. What happened was that the playing field became more level. Or, more precisely, the nature of the playing field could be adjusted according to the needs of the players. What astro-turf did for all- year-round field sport, technology did to eliminate the physical differences between man and woman and thus open up a wide range of new careers for the fairer sex. Women now operate hi-tec equipment that no longer needs muscle, and are able to drive huge trucks with the help of power-assisted steering. In some countries women even fly fighter aircraft and command heavy artillery detachments. Over the past few decades, as more women entered a wider range of careers, proved their ability and versatility, often assisted by affirmative action, more opportunities presented themselves. Most men in many of the countries of the world do not consider anything unusual in their boss being a woman!
What has become abundantly clear is that, in broad terms, women are proving equal to men in business and in top government positions. What is not so clear is why there are still not enough of them in positions of responsibility.
The answers are fairly straightforward. In the first instance there is still prejudice. Many men in many countries can still be seen guarding their own turf or simply not recognising that there are no longer the physical obstacles that prevent women competing on equal terms with men and, as a general rule, being equal in ability. In our own country we see women increasingly holding top positions in both the private and public sectors. But the recent elections, themselves conducted to an exemplary standard, produced only one woman member of Parliament. That has to be down to perception of competence, and a strategy will be developed that sees more women among those elected to our Parliament.
And, secondly, women alone are faced with the classic challenge – even a conflict – of how to balance a busy and highly demanding career with being an active, maternal member of a family, producing and nurturing babies and bringing them up as young children. Whether through the demands of a career or simply a lifestyle choice it has been irrefutably proved across societies that the absence of good parenting poses a serious risk to the proper development of the child. That is what can inhibit, or at least delay, advancement in a challenging career for a woman. So there is still an imbalance at top levels.
Starting men and women at equal levels and pay, evaluating company culture, recruiting senior male executives to sponsor up-and-coming women, making performance standards crystal clear, and providing a flexible work environment are some of the specific steps organisations can take to better attract and retain talented women across both its hi-tech and business sectors.
And it is clear that providing a special focus on women who have achieved something special in their positions of responsibility is important to highlight the need for more women to be there in the first place. The Swaziland Businesswoman of the Year is therefore an excellent vehicle with which to achieve this objective. There is no dispute that women have a substantial contribution to make. Our targeted rates of business growth demand that all available skills have the opportunity to perform. For high standards of public service delivery there is a need for the best skills, male and female, to be in action in Government. I am delighted therefore that this competition proceeds from one year to another without any sign of falling away.
We in Government do not have an affirmative action policy in operation where women are at a formally established advantage over men when applying for a post. Such a policy can clearly have its advantages but equally it can be demoralising for women who have been appointed to posts on merit and who want to be recognised as having secured the position through merit rather than being on the inside lane on the running track. But we do have an equal opportunity policy and the evidence that this works in practice can be seen from the number of women in positions of responsibility across our Civil Service.
And what I believe to be very special about the Competition is
that it focuses on the performance, impact and reputation of the
individual. This is an important dimension of a person’s working life though should never divert from the need to continue contributing to a strong team spirit and achieving the benefits of harmonious collaboration within all spheres of working life.
And in the 2014 Businesswoman of the Year competition we are not only looking at women in positions of responsibility in an entrepreneurial capacity, but also those in a management role in the corporate sector and in positions of responsibility in the Civil Service of our country. It is negative perceptions that this competition is out to dispel. It also serves to empower our women to provide clear evidence – both to men and women – of what they have achieved through merit. This in itself is empowering and gives women the sense of worth that they need.
In this 10th consecutive year I therefore congratulate the Swaziland Businesswoman of the Year organisers for ensuring that this competition continues to be held without any interruption. Our own home-grown, home-owned management consultancy REDI continues to organise this excellent contest to the high level of efficiency that it has demonstrated over the years. I thank them together with the judges and the sponsors who include Nedbank, Swaziland Electricity Company, Swaziland Royal Insurance Corporation, GALP, Printpak and the Times of Swaziland.
To the short-listed contenders let me say that you are all “winners” to have made it to this final stage. My congratulations go to you all and I ask you to please continue to make the impact that you have, all the way sustaining yourselves as exemplary role models so that your skills and attitude can be emulated.
Thank you for inviting me to this significant and most enjoyable event.
Thank you.