Online Reporter
AS Zimbabwe commemorates Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day this week, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) joins all citizens in honouring the gallant sons and daughters of the soil whose bravery, sacrifice and enduring commitment delivered the country from colonial bondage and continue to safeguard its sovereignty.
“United in our diversity by our common desire for freedom, justice and equality, and our heroic resistance to colonialism, racism and all forms of domination and oppression, exalting and extolling the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives during the Chimurenga/Umvukela and national liberation struggles,” states the preamble to Zimbabwe’s Constitution.
These national commemorations are not only about acknowledging military service and political liberation; they are also about celebrating the struggle for equality, justice and dignity, which is part of the founding values and principles symbolising the vision of the country’s founding heroes and heroines.
Often overshadowed by their male counterparts, the women of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle played an indispensable and courageous role.
These women stood at the forefront alongside men. They trained as soldiers, risked their lives as war collaborators, carried intelligence messages through battle zones, provided care and mobilised communities in defiance of colonial rule.
Their contribution was not only symbolic; it was also strategic, practical and deeply sacrificial. To name just a few of these, we have Mbuya Nehanda (Charwe Nyakasikana), who was a fearless spirit medium and leader of the First Chimurenga, inspiring resistance against colonial rule.
Her final words “My bones will rise again” became a lasting symbol of Zimbabwe’s liberation.
Queen Lozikeyi, wife of King Lobengula, who “was respected for her intelligence, courage and leadership qualities”, also played a spiritual role in the Ndebele monarch.
She is remembered for “her courage, wisdom and unwavering spirit in the face of adversity”.
During the liberation struggle, women such as Cde Freedom Nyamubaya, a gifted poet and fighter; Dr Fay Chung, an educator who helped shape wartime and post-war education; and Cde Thenjiwe Lesabe, a political mobiliser and veteran organiser, remind us that the liberation struggle was also a war against structural gender inequalities.
These included laws that viewed women as minors and so denied them the right to own land or inherit property; a patriarchal culture that confined women to domestic spaces, excluded them from leadership roles, limited their access to education, leading to exclusion from being actors in the economy; and a justice system that offered little protection against gender-based violence.
Women in the struggle understood that without tackling the above barriers, independence would remain incomplete.
They fought, therefore, not just for the nation, but also for recognition, opportunities, respect and representation in a just and inclusive Zimbabwe.
Today, the vision of those heroines finds voice in the 2013 Constitution, which guarantees equality between men and women, outlaws discrimination and prescribes affirmative action to address past injustices. However, the fight for equality did not end at the ceasefire period; it continues in legislative chambers, classrooms, boardrooms and courtrooms.
Guided by the liberation ethos, Zimbabwe has enacted progressive legal frameworks such as the Domestic Violence Act, The Marriages Act and the Zimbabwe Commission Act, and adopted the National Gender Policy, revised in June this year.
These are reinforced by international commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development, among others. Each of these tools reflects an understanding that gender justice is central to national progress. The fruits of this progress are evident today.
Zimbabwean women have been occupying positions in areas that were previously male-dominated, including being engineers, doctors, software developers, politicians, miners, farmers, judges, soldiers, entrepreneurs, legislators and diplomats.
Women are leading ministries, managing multinationals, innovating in science and technology, and championing community resilience across the country.
Perhaps one of the most symbolic victories in this journey is the appointment of Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri as Zimbabwe’s first female Minister of Defence.
This position represents the heart of the security sector, a space that historically shunned women in leadership.
Her appointment is not only a historic milestone, but also a bold testament to Zimbabwe’s commitment to gender equality, proof that the barriers of the past can and must be broken.
She stands as a modern-day heroine, a torchbearer of the liberation legacy in the corridors of State power.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces itself is steadily evolving into a more inclusive institution, with more women being recruited, trained and promoted into leadership ranks, including within peacekeeping missions.
The commission acknowledges and applauds these shifts, which set a commendable example for other sectors to follow.
The Government continues to uphold its constitutional commitment to gender equality through key interventions, including the establishment and operationalisation of ZGC, adoption and implementation of gender-responsive budgeting, and efforts to enhance women’s participation in peacebuilding and national development.
The national commitment to addressing women peace and security is symbolised by the adoption of a national action plan in May 2024.
As we reflect on the meaning of Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day, ZGC calls upon all Zimbabweans to honour the legacy of the women who fought, not only with weapons, but also with ideals.
Let us:
Defend the right for women to control their destiny as they fought alongside men;
Empower girls alongside boys through education and opportunity;
Challenge harmful norms that limit women’s potential; and
Ensure women’s voices are heard and choices affirmed at every level of decision-making.
These commemorations must be more than ceremonial.
They are a call to action to safeguard the gains of the past, advance the work of today and build a future where equality is not just enshrined in law, but lived by all.
This article was prepared by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission for The Sunday Mail.
Online Reporter