Then comes the daily transformation. She slips on blue coveralls and heavy black boots – a woman as comfortable in the dusty grease pit under a Toyota Hiace kombi as behind a computer.
She has excelled in a profession perceived to be a preserve for men only because it involves heavy machines. "I love this job," she said in an interview last week at the Eastern Motors workshop where she works as a mechanic.
After scoring six points in her Advanced Level exams she decided to enrol for a mechanical engineering diploma at Sakubva Commercial College. She graduated in 2012. The course also covered industrial engineering, management and logistics and transport management.
“I am now a full mechanic and I can enter data on a computer and reconcile job cards using the fleet management system,” she proudly said.
Although Kasipo always wanted to be an engineer – not necessarily a mechanic – she's been happy in her three years at Eastern Motors gaining hands-on experience.
She works on servicing vehicles, which involves changing the oil and oil filter, checking the air cleaner, brakes, radiator coolant and battery water. “I also check brake and clutch fluid, differential oil, gearbox and engine oil, suspension and link bushes, fuel and oil filters so that our clients are satisfied by the work I do,” said Kasipo.
"Working with the males motivates me a great deal. We work as a team. They help me in certain areas and I assist them too. I learn from them and they learn from me," she added.
Kasipo is not bothered by the challenges of working as the only female mechanic at Eastern Motors, owned by Lazarus Dhliwayo.
No easy job
"There is no easy job. Every job has challenges – and all challenges have solutions. In the beginning some clients would doubt me to see me working on their cars, but now all of them now prefer me to service their cars," she said with confidence.
Dhliwayo said he offered her employed after she displayed good skills and confidence during the interview.
“I have never seen a woman as exceptional as Patricia. She is very competent and courageous. She works every day, every hour, and she does the same as other males and sometimes even better. I wish I had more young women like her here,” he said.
"I am happy to see some gender balance in the field of mechanics here. I can see that Patricia is proud to work with us here as a mechanic,” he added.
Kasipo said she did not want to be a lone ranger in the field and is encouraging other women to join and train as motor mechanics. She challenged women not to be scared. She has inspired other women who are currently striving to be female mechanics.
“At least in the next few years to come I will not be a lone ranger in this field because many women have approached me and I have helped them enrol for the course,” she said.
In the near future she hopes to establish her own garage and employ more female mechanics.
Post published in: Analysis