GENDER POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN THE PROMOTION OF WOMEN LEADERSHIP IN UNIVERSITIES: A CASE OF MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY, ZIMBABWE.

Abstract

This paper is an assessment of gender policy implementation in the promotion of women leadership in universities. The paper is based on the study that assessed the effectiveness of the gender policy in the promotion of women leaders at Midlands State University, Zimbabwe in 2013. The study examined: strategies employed by the institution to increase women in leadership, female representation in various structures of the university, limitations and challenges in policy implementation. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Data were collected through key informants’ interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires and document analysis. A comparative analysis of female representation in various university structures and committees before and after the policy was done. A total of one hundred and thirty- four respondents participated in the study. The study identified a number of challenges to policy implementation which include: culture, patriarchy, stereotyping and male resistance; lack of pool to select women from; Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) standards, lack of policy sensitization, lack of funding and lack of monitoring and evaluation. The study recommends that the university should reaffirm and implement the provisions of affirmative action policies to address gender inequalities in leadership. The university should increase the pre-existing incremental rate of 8% per year to a higher percentage of 20% so that more women are appointed to leadership positions. The university should establish a scholarship fund strictly reserved for women to enable them to pursue further studies and attain higher qualifications. The women should be mobilised to take up initiatives to acquire higher qualifications and be able to compete with men for leadership positions.