Men who deliberately seek to empower women: Vanani Simon Nyangulu

When I think of a man deliberately seeking to empower women I think of my Dad. My Father Vanani Simon Nyangulu is 75 year old, the father of four women and husband to an even stronger woman. Whilst my Dad is not an activist, he raised all four of us the same way he raised my brothers, he gave all six of us the same opportunities and access to education and extra curricular development. He was always fair when he disciplined us and when we were of marrying age his only requirement was that we married God fearing men who would respect us and even the bride price (Lobola) he asked for was never excessive instead the process was carried out in the spirit in which it was meant by our forefathers, a process of bringing to families together in marriage not the selling of a commodity (daughter) as many men practice in Zimbabawe today.

To add to this my father has always supported my mother, with six children at home he encouraged her and enabled her to first gain her masters degree then her PhD. In addition to this he gave her *permission to buy property in her own name and encouraged her to work and earn because that is what she wanted to do.

His example in practice gave us all the strength to be all we can be as women and for that I am forever grateful for having such an amazing man for a Dad.

*Permission - In Zimbabwe in the 80's and 90's women needed the expressed permission of their husband or father to purchase property and have it transferred into their own names.