Women played key role in liberation struggle
ZIMBABWE’S war against colonialism would not have succeeded without the critically important role played by female combatants. The two political parties of Zanu and Zapu, which fought a bitter and protracted guerrilla war against Ian Smith’s racist regime from the two fronts of Mozambique and Zambia, realised the critical role women could play when the military struggle became central to the demand for majority rule in Zimbabwe.
Women, it can be argued, are the backbone of every struggle or revolution, since time immemorial.
They played a significant role in Zimbabwe’s protracted liberation struggle and they continue to contribute to the revolutions experienced in the country.
Their contribution has helped Zimbabwe succeed against its detractors as they have ensured that the fabric of the nation is not torn apart.
Women such as Cde Thokozile Mathuthu are among several examples of women that dedicated their lives to liberate the country from colonial bondage.
In an interview yesterday, Cde Mathuthu, who is a Zanu-PF Politburo member, a member of the Senate for Matabeleland North province and former Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister yesterday said the role of women during the liberation struggle should never be under estimated.
“Women played an
important role during the liberation struggle and continue to do so. We understood the importance of going to war and we rallied behind the men in our numbers. We showed high levels of bravery that made a lot of difference to the struggle.
“If you talk to the men, they will agree with me that the country would not have attained independence without women. Despite the fact that we were the most affected by the war, we managed to support the war and fully participate,” said Cde Mathuthu.
She said it was amazing how women of this country were willing to go the extra mile and participate in driving the country forward.
She added that the resilience and commitment that hundreds of women exhibited during the struggle was remarkable.
“Every woman played their part during the liberation struggle, but what was more intriguing was that hundreds agreed to join men in the different camps and were trained how to use guns to protect themselves from the enemy.
“The involvement of women made a big difference because women were easier to trust than men. There were less female sell-outs because women can keep secrets and they knew how important it was to them to remain loyal and focused,” said Cde Mathuthu.
The liberation struggle, she added, was a painful experience for all Zimbabweans who lived during that time, but women soldiered on.
“It was not easy. The colonialists were evil and were determined to destroy us. They never wanted black people to be educated and they never cared about our families.
“As women, we didn’t wait for men to fight for our rights, but we joined in the fight and I’m happy that up to today, we’re still contributing immensely to the development of the country in all
sectors of the economy,” said Cde Mathuthu.
She said the revolution continues in Zimbabwe and urged women to continue contributing towards the achievements of the nation and emulate the likes of war veteran Cde Jane Ngwenya. — @
pamelashumba1