Nehanda was the leader of the resistance organized by the Mashona people against white-settler colonialism in Zimbabwe. She was captured and executed by the British for her fearless struggles against British imperialism.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Compiled By Tendai Hildegarde Manzvanzvike
Zimbabwe Herald
Heroes Countdown — 6 days to go WOMEN on the political landscape have become a force to reckon with, the vanguard of the revolution.
This dates back to their role model Mbuya Nehanda who was executed by the settler colonialists for refusing to cede to their demands.
When the nationalist struggle started, women by virtue of their position in the home and society were very much a part of it. Thus we cannot talk of Zimbabwe’s founding fathers without talking about its founding mothers.
The late heroines featured so far were part of the instutionalisation process that has seen the Women’s League being the vanguard of the party.
How did it start?
Below are excepts of a speech made by Cde R G Mugabe when the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army department of Women’s Affairs held its first seminar in Mozambique in 1978.
In the opening address Cde R G Mugabe told the women combatants the historic meeting was convened with three definite objectives.
Said Cde Mugabe, "The first objective is for you to study, analyse and assess the role of women in the national struggle and in the effort to develop a socialist society in our country.
"The second objective is to assist our Central Committee in organising and shaping the Department of Women’s Affairs in both form and content so that we have a viable, intact and effective women’s organ capable of serving as an instrument for educating and mobilising women alongside their men-folk both in the performance of revolutionary tasks and in achieving equality, dignity and respect.
"The third is to work out a practical programme for women including set tasks for accomplishment…
Cde Mugabe added, "The role our women should play today in the bitter struggle against imperialism and colonialism is determined by the degree of their freedom, readiness and commitment to play that role.
"Custom and tradition have tended more to favour men than women, to promote men and their status and demote women in status; to erect men as masters of the home, village, clan and nation.
"Admittedly, women have, even in the context of the family, village, clan and nation, been allowed sometimes a significant, but at other times a deplorably insignificant role.
"The general principle governing relationships between men and women has, in our traditional society, always been that of superiors and inferiors.
"Our society has consistently stood on the principle of masculine dominance — the principle that the man is the ruler and the woman his dependent and subject…
"It is necessary therefore to study the role of the Zimbabwe women both generally in society and specifically in the context of the national struggle against white colonialism, with a view to ascertaining the degree of her participation and the extent to which the structures of tradition and custom have yielded to new circumstances, the law of necessity and the call for cultural transformation in her favour."
Cde Mugabe also said, "Let us examine briefly the spread of women over the echelons of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army and examine the distribution of their functions and the tasks they perform.
"Although in the High Command there is only one woman, comrade Sheba Tavarwisa, who is also Deputy Secretary of Education and Culture in the Central Committee, in the General Staff, there are now scores of women officers, while in the Army generally several thousands of women cadres gallantly serve in one role or another.
"In the various operational departments of Zanla, our women cadres can be found daily performing set tasks.
"We find them in the Department of Operation, in the Army Commissariat; in the Logistics and Supplies Department; in the Department of Security and Intelligence as officers and cadres; in the Department of Training as instructors; in the Department of Personnel; Production and Construction; Medical Service; Education and Culture; Welfare and Transport.
"In the Medical and Educational Department, women nursing cadres and teachers are performing wonderful work. I am sure, when the representatives of the Departments here give you a brief account of their work, you will readily appreciate some of the good work that has been taking place.
"Let me just single out the Commissariat work that is taking place in the Operational Areas, especially in the Liberated Zones. We have sent into the country teams of women cadres to carry out in several areas political work amongst our people.
"They talk to fathers, mothers, boys and girls, and the response has been wonderful all over.
"The women cadres, like her male counterpart, are, everywhere she goes, a fighter, a political activist, and a producer. Every Zanla cadre carries three weapons:
--The gun to fight the enemy with and defend the masses.
--Politics to give the direction and purpose of the struggle.
--The hoe for production, so we can eat, be healthy and be able to fight.
"We shall continue to build a large women’s force through intensified military and political training.
It is not only our belief but is indeed now party policy to develop our women not only politically and militarily, but also technically and professionally so that we prepare ourselves fully for the war as well as for the struggle after victory.
"In this regard, the needs that are felt most amongst women in terms of their advancement should manifest themselves in their particular forms through the various party departments, but generally and more earnestly and in a coordinated form through the Department of Women’s Affairs.
This brings us to the subject of this department in the context of party organisation.
"When Zanu was formed in August 1963, it recognised clearly the fundamental role of the woman as an activist alongside her male counterpart in the party. That is why provision was made in our constitution for the creation of the Zanu Women’s League.
"This is a women’s organisation, which is also a component of the party. It builds itself upwards from the branch level to the district, provincial and national levels.
The executive committees of the Women’s League shall at every level comprise the same number of people as those of the main body at a corresponding level.
Thirty-two years how has this template designed in 1978 affected the status of women in politics and other key decision making areas?
Source: Mugabe, Robert Gabriel/Our war of liberation: Speeches, articles, interviews; 1976 -1979, - Gweru: Mambo Press, 1983.
tendai.manzvanzvike@zimpapers.co.zw
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