The study was premised on the truism that men have historically served in higher echelons of organizational management structures and women are under-represented. The principal objective was to explore the constraints faced by women in accessing higher leadership and senior management positions in public, private and non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe. This study adopted the triangulation method, that is, qualitative and quantitative approaches. These mixed research methods, were upgraded by the feminist research methodologies, thereby making a contribution in the field of research. The study found out that the constraints that mostly hinder women from accessing leadership and senior management positions in public, private and NGOs were cultural practices, which represent levels of power and control that in turn hinder reforms; and women's socialisation into feminised roles. The study also found out that in most organisations, most females work under male leadership, and this traditional organisational culture, needs to be deconstructed and reversed in order to achieve gender equality. The study recommended for a human centric and integrated organizational management strategy for public, private and NGOs in Zimbabwe. The adoption of a human centric and integrated management approach should aim at gender equity and reduce women's under-representation. A human centred organizational culture has to be practiced, that would create organisational ethos that guide organizational management. An integrated organizational management approach should integrate all systems and processes into one complete framework, enabling people to work as a single unit, unified by organizational goals, shared vision and common values. The system should depend on a balanced mix of the masculine and feminine attributes. The approach should put its weight towards adoption of measures to attract, advance and empower women so as to benefit from their qualifications, experience and talent in a highly competitive environment.

1 online resource (xiii, 212 leaves) / DEd / Department of Educational Management / The study sought to evaluate the extent to which the affirmative action policy on the accelerated promotion of women to senior educational management positions has created opportunities for women. The policy was promulgated and implemented in 1995 with the sole purpose of achieving gender parity between men and women in educational management positions. The study was prompted by the underrepresentation of women in senior educational management positions in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe against the existence of an affirmative action policy which aimed at increasing the number of women in educational management positions. The study interrogated the effectiveness of the affirmative action policy in creating opportunities for women advancement to senior educational management positions, the challenges experienced by female teachers in ascending to leadership positions, the challenges faced by women in educational management positions, the unintended outcomes and the leadership qualities of women. The study employed a case study design, the qualitative approach and the convenience sampling procedure was used to select study participants. Teachers participated in the study through the focus group discussion while heads of schools, education officers, district education officers and members of the provincial education directorate were engaged through individual interviews. The study revealed that the affirmative action policy on the accelerated promotion of women to senior educational management positions was in place, though not effective because female and male candidates to educational management positions were competing on an equal basis in terms of educational qualifications, experience, and length of service, interview score and the performance rating. Women applicants only supersede their male counterparts in cases where there is a tie after all the above considerations have been made. This approach was found disadvantaging women who in general lack experience and educational qualifications in comparison to their male counterparts hence to date women remain underrepresented in educational management positions in Matabeleland South. The study revealed that women aspiring to ascend to educational management positions lacked family/spouse support and ambitions / confidence to apply for leadership positions. Socio-cultural practices, negative male attitudes about women leadership also constrained women’s v rise to leadership positions. Women in leadership positions face resistance from their subordinates and from members of the greater community who are used to be led by male leaders. The study found that the policy has a labelling effect on women promoted on such policies, it has created disharmony in families as women take their headship portfolios home. Furthermore the study established that home –work conflict causes stress on women in educational management positions .Women were found to be hard workers, less corrupt and produce better results than their male counterparts but are emotionally unstable, use autocratic leadership styles and do not take quality decisions. The study recommended that the Civil Service Commission revise, and disseminate the affirmative action policy so as to increase stakeholders’ awareness so that it can benefit the women, promote more women to headship positions so as to act as role models for other female teachers. The study proposed a model of leadership development in women by creating an enabling environment at home, school, society, and church and government level for gender equality as a pre requite for developing self confidence in the girl child and later in women