Engineer Mkufu proves women too can excel in male-dominated fields

In July, all eyes and ears were directed to Washington DC where the world’s first international robot olympics for high school students took place. More than 160 nations including 40 from Africa were represented.

Tanzania was represented by a team made up of seven students from various secondary schools in Dar es Salaam. The competition aimed at inspiring a passion for technology innovation and leadership among the world’s youth.

The once-in-a lifetime experience was an opportunity for the young people to prove to the world that Tanzania supports brilliant minds that will someday bring about positive change in the world.

The young scientists’ trip to the US was partly made possible by the involvement of a selfless engineer who volunteered to mentor the team and who also offered technical support in assembling the robot the youth presented in Washington DC.

This is none other than Mkufu Tindi, a senior electromechanical engineer with Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco).

Mkufu’s wish is to see Tanzania produce as many scientists as possible, especially women. She contributes towards making this happen in many ways including being a member of the Institution of Engineers Tanzania (IET)’s Women’s Chapter, which supports and promotes the engineering profession. It also provides a responsive service for women in the engineering field as well as inspiring young girls to pursue science-related careers.

A holder of an Electromechanical Engineering degree from the University of Dar es Salaam’s College of Engineering (CoET), the mother of two was among the few girls who graduated in her class in 2009.

When she enrolled for the course, she was among eight female students in a class of 24 students. Out of these, only three female and nine male students completed the course.

“I developed an interest in engineering since I was in Standard Five and thanks to my family that helped nurture my dream. Aunt Elizabeth especially, with whom I lived played a major role in making my dream come true,” Mkufu shares, adding; “I had this passion in science subjects and my aunt, inspite of her tight work schedule would always make sure she spared a few hours to help me with mathematics. She would give me exercises to do before I went to bed.”

Her main inspiration

Although her aunt had a very demanding job she always involved Mkufu in things she believed would be beneficial for her future.

“Through her I believed it was possible to work in the science field and still be able to accomplish other duties like being a mother and a wife.”

Apart from inspiration from her aunt, Mkufu was lucky to have attended the then prestigious girls’ schools, something she attributes to her confidence and daring spirit.

Having gone to Kilakala and Msalato girls’ schools made her believe she had all it took to pursue any subject in higher learning regardless of her gender. And this is exactly why she chose to pursue a degree in engineering, which many girls still shun todate.

“Studying at Kilakala and Msalato girls’ schools had an effect on who I am today, because I grew up with the confidence and belief that a girl can do any job a man can do,” says a confident Mkufu.

Being in girls’ schools did not make her think girls were weaker in academics or in certain subjects since they used to outshine boys’ schools in exams at times. “This made us believe we too were capable,” explains the engineer.

After graduation, Mkufu joined the power utility company (Tanesco) where she has been working for the past seven years. She initially worked in the office of the Procurement and Contract Management Unit responsible for donor funded projects for three and a half years. She was later promoted to the position of senior electromechanical engineer in the company’s research department responsible for studies and development of major hydropower projects.

Has she ever felt inferior among her male colleagues? “Never,” Mkufu says on a serious note. However, she says she can’t ignore the fact that stereotyping still persists in many male-dominated fields.

The most critical problems women in her field face include the fact that there still are people who think female engineers are not as competent as their male counterparts. This she says leads to unfair allocation of work. For example women are given lighter tasks simply because they are not trusted as being capable to handle complex ones.

“I remember how I once was assigned to represent the company to do a certain job in another company together with some male colleagues. I was the only woman on the team and when we arrived at the company, the boss there insisted he wanted a competent engineer who had experience in donor funded projects to execute the work.”

To his surprise, Mkufu’s colleagues told him she was the person that had been assigned to perform the task.

“He still was not satisfied and this really annoyed me although I did not show it. I instead used the opportunity to prove to him that women can even perform better if given the opportunity,” she proudly explains.

It’s all about mindset change

To end such kind of stereotypes, Mkufu says it’s about time society changed their mindset. People should understand that female engineers too can handle complex tasks in the same manner as their male counterparts. Or even better.

“We have so many examples of female engineers who are doing wonders in different engineering fields. Others have even received presidential appointments to different positions while others are leaders in different major projects in the country and they are doing very well.”

As a working mother of a three-year-old son and an eight-year- old girl, Mkufu admits that its hard juggling the two but she always tries her best to strike a balance between her roles as a wife, mother and career woman.

The strong support and understanding from family and friends makes it possible especially given that there are times when she has to be away from the family for field work for longer periods.

When she is not working away in the field, Mkufu makes sure she spends weekends and public holidays with her family.

On the most rewarding thing about her job, Mkufu says it is when she sees the actual product of what she had started as a plan on paper.

“I can say that this is the greatest reward one can get. Starting any project from an idea and watch it grow from the design drawings up to the actual structure, that’s very rewarding,” she happily explains.