A Tribute to African Heroines in Communities

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A Tribute to African Heroines in Communities

United Nations Development Fund for Women (New York)

http://www.unifem.org/

OPINION

March 8, 2006

Nyaradzai Mugaragumbo-Gumbonzvanda

When I was first asked to write something for International Women's

Day 2006, I was not sure what to write. Women in decision-making,

public office, the numbers, the politics, the influence they have or

do not have? The theme of this year's day seemed large, grand, and

ripe with notions of power and influence at the very top.

But I woke up inspired the other day, and put pen to paper. This is a

eulogy to African heroines - especially the African women who meet

challenges everyday, who are creating change and whose voices, views,

energies and creativity are never recognized, counted or valued.

First, a tribute to my own mother, Rozaria, who gave birth to more

than a dozen children, a 3rd grade graduate who sent us all to school,

and lived as a widow for more than 27 years. She was never a

parliamentarian or a councilor, but she was on 24-hour call in her

community, supporting, contributing and advising. She sat on the local

school board and was a leader in her local church. She met many, many

challenges in life, but she also created change. She influenced the

family, the community and the school. She died a leader and a queen of

many hearts. Through her work we continue to struggle for justice, for

equality, for rights, for dignity, for peace and for a life free from

want and fear.

Many women in Africa are like my own mother. They assert themselves

within the space they have. They know what is good for their children,

community and country and strive for this. They are heroines whose

names are inscribed in our hearts but whose leadership, wisdom and

contribution is not counted nor recognized. We continue to wallow in

the pain of the low numbers in parliament and in public office. If

women are not in these public offices, they are in their houses and

communities meeting challenges and trying to make a difference. And

yes, they are also trying to access public office! Just like every

woman is a worker, every woman is a decision maker.

The question is how do we translate women's skills, passion and

commitment to public expression and presence in public office? Why do

we have a fixation with the apex, instead of diffusing the power from

the apex to other and arguably, more important levels of governance?

Transformational leadership must equally be about changing the value

base. It must be about the totality of women's space and recognising

every space within which women are making decisions. In public office,

we must continue to struggle for gender parity, but not at the expense

of celebrating where women are already trying to influence change and

meeting many struggles.

On this international women's day, I call on the recognition of women

in decision-making beyond the numbers of women in parliament. I call

on the world and Africa to measure where it matters most for women:

women in local authorities, in health boards, water boards, education

committees, budget committees. Since most women are the ministers of

finance (some say " cashiers " ) at home, why not as chairs of finance

committees in parliament and on local boards?

I give a tribute to every woman today, as we continue to make

decisions about our family, our life and our futures. This happens in

the face of discrimination, poverty, wars, HIV & AIDS and exclusion.

Women are carrying even more than half the sky, today; especially in

the part of the world we call Africa.

The writer is the Regional Programme Director for United Nations

Development Fund for Women in Eastern Africa.

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