Being A Female Motor Mechanic in Zimbawe

Motor Mechanics Work with - Memo Makanika

International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on the 8th of March Ito commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women.

Her name is Memory Bere popularly known as Memo Makanika “Chimhamha Chesimbi”. A motor mechanic who fixes both petrol and diesel light vehicles.

She was born and bred in Chipinge and the last born from a family of four with two girls and two boys.She got her primary and secondary education in that small town.

IM: How you did start setting up your own workshop in brief

MM: When I finished high school, I made a decision to go study mechanics at a college and obtained my certificate.

However, after obtaining my certificate, it was not easy for me to get a job here in Zimbabwe due to the nature of the job as it is a male dominated field.

This is when I decided to go to South Africa, where it was not easy for me to get the job for the main issue is the same with this type of job ,but in S.A the industry is huge, so l managed to secure my first job.

I worked in Durban at one of the biggest workshops for motor mechanics. This is where I was groomed to be the motor mechanic expert that I am today.

I worked in South Africa for a five years, and recently came back to Zimbabwe in 2022 because, I felt it is the right time to start a business in my home country so as to inspire and encourage young women who also want to venture motor mechanics or other related industries.

The goal is to inspire them that if I can do it, then they can do it too.

IM: Considering that the motor mechanics field is mainly male dominated what drove/inspired you to become a one of the few women who defied the odds

My father not being a motor mechanic, he would still fix his car by himself and whenever he would, I was always by his side as he always asked me to pass him tools.

Through assisting him, I identified a few tricks in the process and learned how to loosen or tighten bolts, and handling the spanner.Due to this ,I fell in love with cars and the environment. So, quite frankly my father played a role in making me be passionate about motor mechanics.

At an early stage as young as grade five l was already practicing to do small task such as loosening bolts and removing tires.

IM: Considering it was a daring career, did your family accept your career path and if so, what support did they provide you with?

MM: Considering that motor mechanics is a male dominated field it’s not easy especially in our communities and family to accept a woman who wants to be a motor mechanic.

My family did not approve it or accept my choice of career path but because of the support I was getting from my father as the head of the family, everyone had to come to an understanding .

My mother it was difficult for her to accept it as she wanted me to be a nurse since she is also a nurse but after she realized that my father was giving me all his support I needed ,she ended up accepting and gave me her blessing.

The whole family encouraged me to go and study for mechanics as it was something I was very passionate about.

IM: How did you manage to stay positive within the line of your career and what ways can you tell that helped you with improving your skills?

MM: What made me stay positive in my career, I would say it is the fact that part of my principles do not allow me to give up easily, so I worked extra hard to prove to my male colleagues that I am also cable of doing what they can do, and I give all glory to the almighty because he has given me the strength to stand for myself.

There were a lot of people who expected me to quit and see my hitting rock bottom to give up, but God kept me going.I had several people discouraging because I chose motor expected meto quit

IM: You have been in the mechanics field for over 10 years now , so what are the biggest challenges you have faced throughout your career and what challenges do you feel you still have to conquer?

MM: Being a female motor mechanics is not easy to begin with for it’s a men environment 90% .So, I would say yes, I have faced a few challenges and one of the biggest challenges was to find another female mechanic to look up to for advice and inspiration, basically l lacked mentorship..

Being a female motor mechanics is not easy to begin with for it’s a men environment 90% ,So I would say yes, I have faced a few challenges and one of the biggest challenges was to find another female mechanic to look up to for advice and inspiration, basically l lacked mentorship..

Other major obstacles include lack of support as the male colleagues constantly doubted my capabilities as well as disrespecting me in a way of undermining my efforts.

The most unspoken of is “sexual harassment” which is very common, but the society never really open to its serious discussion and awareness.

IM: Who do you look up-to and what makes you stay motivated ?

MM: I really look up-to my father, I am where I am today because of him. .He started the journey with me and still is part of the journey as he supports me to get my ambitions on track.

My intentions also include inspiring young girls so that they understand they is no reason to give up if they have any dream to chase , even if it means breaking barriers on being the first female to be involved in it.

Women lately have been breaking barriers in many ways through their careers and businesses,

IM: What are some of the things that you see yourself archiving in the years in building a society that accepts people for their skills rather than their gender.?

MM: I want to try and groom a lot of female mechanics around Zimbabwe and if God allows. My biggest dream is to start one of the biggest workshops in Africa to accommodate only female mechanics.

I would like to travel in schools around Zimbabwe and train young women & girls that are interested in pursuing jobs or securing careers in mechanics or any other male dominated industry.

This will include advocacy whilst engaging with parents on how they can support the girl child when they choose to pursue a career in a male dominated industry, and this encompasses other fields such as carpentry & construction etc.

IM: Do you think that the society is ready to accept female mechanics and how best can we promote inclusivity?

MM: It is hard to be a female motor mechanics especially here in Zimbabwe because funny enough, this may sound petty, but it is indeed one of the most repeatedly faced problem.

Most end up thinking I am having an affair with their man, for it is mainly the men who usually come to get the cars fixed.

I have seen that most women do not believe that there is a female mechanic and that shows that our society is not ready to accept female mechanics, as much as l thought, maybe with time eventually we will be identified.

IN CONCLUSION WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN ALL YOUR DREAM CHASING JOURNEY! #FEMPRENUERS

When most people think of a motor mechanic, what they often visualize is a man covered in grime and grease — the idea of a woman under the hood is still strange to many people.

Memory Bere, however, is not the stereotypical mechanic.

She is among a growing number of female motor mechanics smashing gender bias and driving change in the male-dominated automotive repair and maintenance industry.

Her ambition is to encourage more women to become motor me chanics.

Article by Panashe Gurira Editorial Team Member