BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
Rita Makarau is living her dream as the first woman Judge President of Zimbabwe.
Makarau, assumed the powerful position as head of Zimbabwe’s high court in 2006. She has become the epitome of success in the eyes of women in the country.
The road to her dream career was full of pot-holes. Sitting back on her luxurious leather sofa in her office, she told The Zimbabwean how she overcame the challenges women face in a patriarchal Zimbabwean society.
Makarau (48), a lawyer who had her first court case at the age of 24, reminisced about the days she was usually confused for a secretary by clients, describing her challenges as “double barreled” amongst men in law.
“People then had a notion that women do not make good lawyers,” said Makarau.
“Apparently, they had this picture of a big and mature man when they visited my offices and would usually take me for his secretary.
“They did not take me seriously, so as a young woman I had to work harder than the men and older women.
“For older women it was different because they earned respect because of their maturity and experience,” she recalled.
“I was so nervous when I had my first court case in 1984, knowing that the person I was representing was counting on me, yet I was also not sure if my legal submissions would make any sense to the judiciary.”
Born on December 7, 1960, Makarau grew up an ordinary girl in urban Zimbabwe, taking her secondary studies at Goromonzi high after Donbrooke primary school, in Mabvuku. She took up a law degree in 1980.
Makarau reckons her loss in the well-known Magaya vs Magaya – a gender-sensitive case which set the precedent for the girl child against the boy in matters of inheritance, as her toughest challenge in her career as a lawyer.
The court ruled that the girl could not inherit her father's estate, giving the estate to her half-brother, on the basis that the 'nature of African society' relegated women to a lesser status, especially in the home.
However, Makarau says that during that case, she managed to enlighten society of the subconscious isolation subjected to the girl child in matters of inheritance.
“We encourage our judges to protect the interests of children in divorce cases, as well as widows in cases of inheritance,” said the judge President.
In African societies some men have appeared uncomfortable around successful women who are outspoken and independent.
Makarau, however, said that she was not discouraged by those men who tried to pull down women to take up their positions.
“If men feel that they have to be at the head of the pack, they should be there because they deserve to be, not simply because they are men,” she said.
Makarau is married to Amos, and together they have a daughter (24). She has managed to juggle between family and work.
For any woman, that would be a trophy.
She appreciates the African culture in marriage, where a woman is “not only married to her husband but the extended family” and believes that she is managing well.
“To be a complete career woman one needs to be able to strike a balance between family and work.
“One needs to understand that if she sits on an executive board at work, they should not take their position home.
“It does not hurt to swallow one’s pride once in a while, reduce oneself to the children’s level and play with them,” Makarau explained.
“A lot of women have failed because they cannot climb up and down- down to earth at home, and back up on the decision making position at work,” she said.
The High Court has been accused of taking sides in recent years, while Makarau has been associated with bias towards Zanu P.F.
But the Zimbabwe’s Judge President denied being influenced or associated with any party “in any time in my career”.
She hopes that with the formation of the inclusive government, judges will pass their ruling without being accused of taking any sides.
“We had to live with that (allegations of bias) since 2002; we never really got to be appreciated to have done well, especially in sensational matters after one side lost,” explained Makarau.
“We are human beings and do sometimes make mistakes, but personally, I have never been influenced by anyone in any of my rulings. I have always given far judgment,” she said.
