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ZANDILE Shaba, the outgoing BancABC managing director (MD) and also deputy president of the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) describes herself in three words: confident, friendly and successful.
According to her she is one tough woman who, when push comes to shove will “bulldoze” her way to the top.
Shaba has been holding the post of MD in Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe in different companies for the past eight and half years.
“As the managing director the bank relies on you, on everything you do, you report to the board and the responsibilities are quite substantial.”
She says although it was difficult for women to work in big positions she has been lucky because she has never faced any stigma.
“In a men’s world, women need to re-emphasise their point so they can be heard, but the men I have been working with especially at ABC have been very supportive.
“One thing that I have decided is that I am not a victim, if someone has a problem with me that’s their problem.
“I bulldoze my way, I know my worth and I know my standing so I do not dwell on any man who has got issues with women, that’s his problem,” she said adding that she does not look for men to solve her problems.
“I respect myself. Sometimes people will try to destroy you but you should stand your ground.”
Besides being a boss at her workplace Zandile is a family woman. She has a husband who works for a non-governmental organisation in Malawi.
The mother of two, a 17-year-old son and a daughter aged 15, said although she was successful in her career it was not easy to strike a balance between work and family.
“The biggest challenge is to handle life and work. I have been moving and settling in a number of countries, it was not easy for my children and my husband.
“I had to make a decision to send my children to a boarding school in South Africa so that they can have some sort of stability.
“I have to plan ahead and know my schedule so that I try to be available when they need me. But I tell you it’s not easy.
“I spend a lot of time flying to Malawi to see my husband but it’s not the ideal life.”
Shaba said none of her children had decided to follow her footsteps in banking.
“Neither of them has a banking mind, the boy is into stock-broking and the girl loves working with children, they are both going in their own directions.
Coming to fashion, Shaba is not fanatical about designers as one would expect of a high flying executive.
“Thank God for make-up, I would never step out of my house looking natural.
“Show me one natural woman you know, they are very few. Natural is not always good.”
And she looked well made-up for the day looking stunning in her tailor-made suit.
To her, quality is always the best.
“Being a banker has moulded my fashion, I wear lots of suits. I love quality and I don’t care about designer labels.
“I am a down to earth person. If it looks good it looks good; who cares who has made it.
“Society tries to force and mould you into these designer labels, which is great but I am not that kind of person.
“As long as I look smart and great that’s OK.
“I spend lots of money on my skin. I love it and I always buy my skin products in South Africa.”
During her spare time Shaba loves to read and to listen to music.
“I love to read; I read two to three books every month, right now I am reading a book called Four Hour Work Week.
“On music I am ashamed to say that I love R&B; I don’t have a choice anyway because of my kids.
“My best song at the moment is Can’t Be Without You by Mary J Blige. I love Lady Gaga’s tunes but I don’t like the lyrics, I also I don’t like Beyonce Knowles.”
She goes to Celebration Church and unlike most people she does not have a role model.
“I have different people in different aspects of my life who inspire me, spiritually and etc; it’s difficult to find someone who is inspirational in every sector.”
Born to a Chartered Accountant father she did her primary school in Zambia and her secondary school in Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
She holds a Masters in Business Administration from Bulawayo’s National University of Science and Technology obtained in 2001.
Shaba also has a BSc Hons Political Science and Administration from the University of Zimbabwe.
She has over 17 years of banking experience in both retail and merchant banking.
Shaba has worked for several high profile financial institutions such as Finhold Group in Zimbabwe, Syfrets Corporate and Merchant Bank, BancABC.
In August 2002, she was appointed the MD for African Banking Corporation Mozambique before moving to Zambia in 2004 in the same capacity.
She was transferred to Zimbabwe as the MD for BancABC in March 2008, a position she held until her resignation.
She is also a director of Powertel (a subsidiary of Zesa Holdings).
Her last words to women out there were: “Women shouldn’t be victims, we women are our worst enemies in terms of getting ahead.
“At times we back from opportunities because we are too scared or don’t have money.
“It’s time for us women to rise up; we have our strengths that we need to build up so that we can work in the corporate world. Don’t try to be something you are not, be the best of what you are.”
BY SANDRA MANDIZVIDZA
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