THE swearing-in of Elizabeth Gwaunza as Chief Justice and the appointment of Vimbai Kadenge-Chikwenhere should have been a proud national moment, a week in which Zimbabwe celebrated women breaking barriers and assuming some of the most powerful constitutional offices in the country.
Instead, as I scrolled through social media, I felt something deeper than disappointment. I felt anger, rage and sadness.
The comments directed at 38-year-old Kadenge-Chikwenhere were vile, degrading and deeply misogynistic. Instead of celebrating a young, accomplished Zimbabwean woman rising to one of the most critical public oversight roles in the country, sections of society immediately descended into sexualisation, character assassination and cyberbullying.
The first questions were not about her vision, competence or ideas. They were: “Whose daughter is she?” “Who is she connected to?” What a tragic reflection of who we have become.
Why must women constantly prove they deserve to occupy spaces men walk into unquestioned?
In Zimbabwe, violence against women has now migrated to digital spaces. Facebook, TikTok and X have become weapons used to humiliate, sexualise and intimidate women in leadership. Female politicians, journalists, activists and professionals have become punching bags in a toxic online culture fuelled by misogyny and patriarchal insecurity.
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And the tragedy is that many participating in these attacks do not even realise the message they are sending to the next generation. What are we telling our girl child?
That no matter how educated she becomes, no matter how hard she works, no matter how many qualifications she earns, society will still reduce her to rumours about who she knows? Are we telling young women they should fear occupying leadership positions because success will invite abuse instead of respect?
If so, then we are failing them.
Kadenge-Chikwenhere’s appointment should be celebrated, not vilified. Her credentials speak for themselves. She is a chartered accountant, auditor and public finance expert with international experience.
She worked for Ernst & Young Zimbabwe before serving at Audit St Helena, where she rose to deputy chief auditor. She also worked in South Africa, building a respected career grounded in governance, transparency and financial oversight. That is merit.
And it is particularly significant because the Office of the Auditor-General is one of the few institutions that has consistently exposed corruption, abuse of public funds and financial irregularities in government ministries, state enterprises and local authorities.
Kadenge-Chikwenhere follows in the footsteps of Mildred Chiri, who served as Auditor-General for an extraordinary 19 years, from 2004 to 2023, before Deputy Auditor-General Rheah Kujinga held the fort in an acting capacity. Rather than tearing down another woman entering this office, we should be celebrating continuity, professionalism and the emergence of a new generation of public leaders.
Around the world, young women are increasingly taking up positions of national leadership.
Sanna Marin became Prime Minister of Finland at 34. Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister of New Zealand at 37. Iceland’s Katrín Jakobsdóttir rose to leadership at 41.
Across the globe, societies are embracing youthful leadership and recognising the value women bring to governance.
Only an archaic society trapped in the dark ages struggles to comprehend the idea of a young woman occupying a powerful office.
Zimbabwe cannot continue pretending it wants gender equality while viciously attacking every woman who dares to rise.
It has been 46 years since Independence. Surely, by now, we should understand that inclusivity and equality are not slogans to be recited on commemorative days, but principles to be lived daily. Freedom of expression cannot become a licence for cruelty and misogyny.
The ascension of young women into influential positions should be viewed as a beacon of hope for young women.
If a man of the same age had been appointed Auditor-General, I would bet my last dollar he would not have faced the same vicious scrutiny.
We all have daughters, sisters, nieces — young women looking to us for cues about their place in society. Should they grow up believing leadership belongs only to men? Or should they believe they too can rise, lead and be respected based on their competence?
The way we treat women in leadership today will shape the ambitions of our girls tomorrow.