A Voice for Justice: Championing Women’s Rights in Zimbabwe

Myness Matanda, a 51-year-old mother of five and grandmother of two, lives in Anjini, ARDA Transau. Displaced from Chiadzwa, Marange, in December 2010 due to diamond mining activities, she has built a life rooted in resilience and advocacy. Although she is not politically active, her community affectionately calls her the “Mother of People’s Rights” for her unwavering dedication to championing women’s rights.

In August 2018, Myness began her journey with JASS, where she was introduced to human rights, gender equality, and the impacts of patriarchy. This transformative education helped her embrace her identity and responsibilities as a woman, igniting her passion for advocating against inequality and gender-based violence.

Organizing and Mobilizing for Change

The Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) program marked a turning point for Myness and her peers in ARDA Transau. Through FPAR, women explored the dynamics of power and leadership, acknowledging the historical exclusion of women from decision-making roles, including within religious institutions. This realization fostered a shared determination to challenge these norms and encouraged a collective effort to advocate for equality.

FPAR introduced programs on gender sensitivity and equality, strengthening solidarity among the women of ARDA Transau. These initiatives empowered women to address gender-based violence (GBV) through education and mutual support, resulting in a significant decline in incidents of GBV. The women’s collective action has reshaped community dynamics, allowing women and men to work together more equitably.

Myness’s Secret Garden

“As sisters we set up a garden so that we work together in secret. Behind the (idea of the) garden was to attract other women to come and work in the garden and at the same time we would share our message of stopping violence and knowing their rights as women. Some of them would come to buy vegetables and we would talk to them. We reached out to a variety of women from different religions, political interests, social class and more. We educated a lot of women about their rights over their bodies, right to work, right to rest. We ended up with a day for ladies to meet in their different localities. So every Thursday women were now meeting to save money and teach each other about their rights’, remarked Myness.

FPAR fostered a strong sense of sisterhood that transformed the women’s approach to advocacy. Initially hesitant to share their struggles, women found strength in unity, using their gatherings to address challenges and strategize solutions collectively. Many have assumed leadership roles within their homes and churches, creating safe spaces for collaboration and mutual empowerment.

“As women who are in the community, we know and hear what is happening. During the community coordination meetings held monthly with the local leadership including the councillor and other government departments, we hear their reports and sentiments. We get to know what is happening around GBV from the networks that we have with the local clinic and police station. We get to hear informally of reported GBV cases, child marriage incidents among others. The women’s collective action reshaped community dynamics, allowing women and men to work together more equitably.”

Breaking Barriers Together

“Many women realized through the FPAR process that we have been disadvantaged simply because we are women. As daughters, we have no voice; as wives, we still lack agency. Our brothers and fathers receive the lobola (bride price) and often misuse it. We live under the authority of the men in our lives—fathers, brothers, husbands. We now understand that we need to liberate ourselves from this oppression by asserting our rights”. 

Myness and her peers approach authority figures and community leaders with a sense of confidence that did not exist prior to their engagement in FPAR and their shift in their perception of their own collective power. This shift has inspired more women to seek assistance from institutions such as the District Council and the Legal Resource Foundation. Once silenced by fear, women now advocate for their rights and navigate complex issues with courage and determination.

Building a Future Free from Violence

Myness imagines a future where there is no violence against women and where social justice activists, like herself, have official identification cards to streamline their work and ensure better access to support within their communities and legal systems. As the women of ARDA Transau continue to rise together, they are working towards a society where their voices are heard and their rights are upheld, paving the way for a more equitable and just future.

“We want a world where women can refuse any form of violation, whether it’s physical abuse in marriage, having our property registered in a man’s name or being denied opportunities simply because of our gender. These injustices should not continue. Structural violence must end!”