WOMEN in accounting and finance will launch the ‘Zimbabwe Forum for Women in Accounting’ next year, which aims to empower women in the sector, it has emerged.
This forum’s launch was spurred by the need to advance and build international relations with professional bodies and private companies to improve the visibility of local women working in the accounting, auditing, and finance fields.
Marianhill Zimbabwe chief executive officer Manyara Chigunduru said the forum would bring together different representatives from accounting and financial firms to create a committee to represent the country in the Pan-African Federation of Accountants (Pafa).
Pafa is a pan-African organisation that works to strengthen the capacity and influence of the accountancy profession on the continent.
“It is with great pride again and excitement to officially introduce the Zimbabwe Forum for Women in Accounting,” Chigunduru said at the Zimbabwe Women Accountants Conference 2024 held last week.
“This forum represents a bold step forward in our collective journey towards advancing the role of women in the accounting profession, empowering women accountants, women auditors, and those in finance, and shaping the future of our profession with inclusivity and diversity at its core.
“Our forum will seeks to build relationships with other professional bodies, private companies, and private sector entities to ensure that we have a seat at every decision-making table. It can only be possible if you make yourselves available.”
She said next year would be the official launch of the forum.
At the conference, a committee was set up to prepare for the forum’s launch.
“This committee will grow bigger than what you will see today,” Chigunduru said. “Today, it is just a representation of the people we will be working with from all the PAOs (professional accountancy organisations) within the country.”
She said Zimbabwean chartered accountants needed to be represented in the federation and be involved in the decision-making of policies that govern them.
“We are also committed to working in solidarity with international organizations like the Pan-African Federation of Accountants, Pafa,” Chigunduru added.
“For your information, this year, after a lot of discussions, a forum for women in accounting was formed at the African level, which is under Pafa, the Pan-African Federation of Accountants, and as a country, we also want to be represented within that forum.”
The forum is expected to resolve the disparities in leadership roles for women, which have remained prevalent.
“The idea behind the Zimbabwe Forum for Women in Accounting stems from the realisation that while women have made significant strides in accounting and finance,” Chigunduru said.
“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done as far as leadership within the profession is concerned.
“We are all aware of the remarkable talents, insights, and contributions that we make as women at the decision-making table.
“However, despite this agenda, disparities in leadership roles remain prevalent.
“We often face barriers. I think the speakers that came here, spoke about those barriers that we are facing as women.”
“But some of these barriers, are sometimes self-imposed because you need to believe in yourself.
“So, this forum aims to address these challenges head-on, and our vision is very simple but powerful.”
