MUROMBEDZI - Rural women in Zimbabwe are usually a silent lot, especially now that there is talk of elections. The women fear for their safety and the possibility that they may be denied access to resources necessary for their livelihood if they speak out. Along the road to Murombedzi Growth point, Zvimba, President Robert Mugabes home area, women line up the road selling all kinds of agricultural produce so that they can survive and send their children to school.
Every day of the year, women here have something to sell, from tomatoes, onions, vegetables, sugar cane, sweet potatoes to traditional fruits such as mazhanje.
The women said they needed to supplement poor harvests from sandy soils in the area.
Their adventures for survival need documentation to inspire others, but the women said they would rather stay in the shadows to stay safe.
We cannot open up to strangers because it may be dangerous politically, said one woman who identified herself as Jane from Chikaka village.
We dont talk about our challenges and how we are managing as rural women, said another woman who said she survived on food for work programmes in the area.
We were promised a jam making machine since we have mango and guava fruits in abundance by our Government in 1988 but nothing has been done yet. Its frustrating, she said.
She warned the Radio VOP reporter to change the subject as an elderly man approached. She quickly diverted from the topic. Later five women joined her. The women bombarded the reporter with questions. Who are you? Do you work for an NGO(Non-governmental organisation)? Have you been cleared by police to talk to us? What will you do to assist?
One woman dressed in a T-Shirt inscribed Zanu (PF) 2008 campaign shouted VaMugabe chete chete (Mugabe forever) before ordering the women to disperse.
Do not move around with a camera or recorder around this place because everyone is suspicious of anyone, she said in a low tone voice after the other women had left. Avoid talking to anyone you do not know. Be warned. Go well, she added as the reporter shaked her hand to thank her. But as she left she started again to shout: Ndati hakuna mombe dzauri kuda kuno (There are no cows that you are looking for here). This was meant to confuse those who may have been monitoring the conversation so that they do not suspect her of saying anything negative.
As Zimbabwe gears for elections next year, a dark cloud of fear is gripping rural areas shutting out independent media especially in Zanu (PF) strong holds areas like Zvimba.
During the 2008 political violence many women bore the brunt as they were raped, killed, tortured, beaten and displaced from their homes.
Post published in: Politics