By Meluse Kapatamoyo
For women in the hotel industry, finding marriage partners is proving difficult as most men are reluctant to wed ladies who work late night shifts.
“I have been in relationships that start out well but end miserably because of the awkward hours I have to work. In the beginning, men are okay with me working night shifts but as the relationship progresses and things start getting serious, their fears set-in,” explained
Rachael Kaingu, a waitress working at one of the country’s popular restaurants in Lusaka.
“People still see it as taboo for a woman to be outside of the home while the husband sleeps. My ex- fiancé broke off our engagement when I refused to quit my job. I loved him but giving up my job meant I would be completely dependent on him.”
Despite making that bold decision to stay in employment, at age 27, Rachael now wonders if she made the right decision. Two of her work-mates recently got married, but not before they quit their jobs.
“I feel I have lost out on love because of my career. I have had two good relationships that have all ended because of the odd hours I work. I think deep-down some are even embarrassed to date a woman who works as a waitress. They see our interaction with guests as flirting,” she narrated.
“My ex-fiancé once manhandled me in front of guests and accused me of flirting with one of the regular patrons when he saw the two of us chatting while I waited for him to sign his bill.
Rachael now fears she will never find a man who will completely accept her career.
”Pressure doesn’t just come from men alone but their families too. He can accept what I do now, maybe we can even get married but I know for sure that later he will demand I give it up. I am not ready to do that just now.”