The headlines celebrate Zimbabwe's digital transformation—rising internet penetration, thriving fintech, innovative startups. But beneath the surface, a troubling pattern emerges: women are being systematically excluded from the country's tech revolution.
The statistics are stark. Women represent less than 20% of Zimbabwe's tech workforce. Female-founded startups receive less than 5% of available funding. And in rural areas, the gender digital divide is actually widening, not closing.
This isn't a pipeline problem. Zimbabwean universities graduate talented female computer scientists, engineers, and designers every year. The problem is what happens next—or rather, what doesn't happen.
Cultural expectations still channel women toward "safe" careers while men are encouraged to take entrepreneurial risks. Networking events happen in spaces where women don't feel welcome or safe. And venture capital, concentrated among a small group of predominantly male investors, flows to founders who look like the investors themselves.
The consequences extend beyond individual careers. When women aren't at the table, products are designed without considering female users' needs. When women aren't in leadership, workplace policies ignore caregiving responsibilities that still disproportionately fall on women. And when women aren't in decision-making roles, the digital economy replicates rather than disrupts existing inequalities.
Some initiatives are promising. Coding bootcamps specifically for women. Mentorship programs pairing female founders with experienced advisors. And advocacy groups pushing for policy changes.
But incremental progress isn't enough. Zimbabwe's tech sector needs radical intentionality—quotas for female representation, funding earmarked for women-led ventures, and workplace cultures that don't just tolerate women but actively support their success.
The digital economy was supposed to democratize opportunity. It's time to ensure that promise includes everyone.
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