WeeklySA_AdminMINDSET: Eastern Cape businesswoman primes women to push for their own advancement…
By Siyabonga Kamnqa
Prolific podcaster Viwe Mngambi is one of the women endowed with the fearless streak to hold the bull by the horns whenever seized by a mission.
Living in a judgmental society, where divorce is seen as a failure and divorcees often finding themselves stigmatised, the 42-year-old Eastern Cape businesswoman has been fighting to change the negative narrative by rising above the trials of a heartbreak divorce, going as far as using her agony to create a new beginning for herself.
Instead of wallowing in despair following her broken marriage, Mngambi decided to use her experience to inspire other women to dream for marriage.
In her latest podcast, “Navigating Life with Viwe”, she explores the topics of conscious leadership, vision-aligned living and breaking limiting beliefs to inspire those gearing to change their lives but unable to do so because they lack transformative tools.
True to her devil-may-care style, she doesn’t hold back on a whole-range of societal issues facing women, divorce, single-parenting, infidelity, including opening up about the collapse of her own marriage. She sees the scarring episode as something of a catharsis to make a clean break with her past, rather than dwelling on vengefulness.
“I was swept away by my charming Prince Charming, only to discover later that this wasn’t working for me. I think it is high time that, as women, we move away from toxic situations and stop pretending things are okay for the sake of families.
Following her divorce, the podcaster stunned her family and close friends by throwing a divorce party. Despite some judging her, she says it was her way of finding closure.
She says she walked out of her marriage “a happy woman” and determined to raise her two teenage daughters single-handedly.
“More than anything, the podcast is all about inspiring women out there to learn to move on. I sometimes get stunned when I see a former wife wanting to hang the dirty linen of her marriage to the public. ‘Woman, just move on and let God take care’.
Reception to her podcast on marriage and divorce has been “overwhelming”, Viwe says, adding she is proud to be reaching out to women on their real issues.
“It is a moment of reflecting and facing reality. In our culture, it is often said (as testimony to strength and resilience of women) that, ‘wathint’ abafazi wathint’ imbokodo’ (South African women’s battle-cry, meaning ‘you strike a woman, you strike a rock’).
“As women, we need to be those hard rocks who pull through despite all the challenges.”
A Master of Business Administration degree holder from the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha, Mngambi is a businesswoman of note in the Eastern Cape, including being a shareholder and CEO of a wholesale fuel company.
The company employs 90 percent women, reflecting her passion for women empowerment. One thing that ceaselessly pains her is to witness capable, young women graduates being exploited by predatory bosses who sweet-talk them into ‘bedroom interviews’.
“It is really sad. Government needs to do enough to support women projects, especially in rural areas.”
Raised in the rural Eastern Cape village of Manzana in Ngcobo by school principal parents, Mngambi is a lecturer in strategic management and applied business analysis at NMU. Her mission is to inspire young girls in her village and often conducts motivational talks in schools.
“Deep down NdinguNolali (rural girl) and I have lived those experiences. I know how it’s like walking long distances to school, with some of my peers walking barefoot. Sadly, many rural communities are still faced with the situations.”
