Women can lead healing process – Chitepo

Speaking during the commemoration of the World Women’s day that is marked annually on the 8th March, Chitepo said that the country needs women who can lead the way through art and writing. “We are going through a difficult time and as women we should ask what is it that we can do to change the society,” she said.

Chitepo who is a dean of studies at the respected Africa University in humanities and also the Chairperson of the National Art Council of Zimbabwe, implored women artist to use their artistic role to initiate national healing which has been elusive in the country trouble political spectrum.

“Let us use writing as a tool for peace, we can send text messages to people in authority. Just a paragraph that denotes peace. That way we can find a way,” said Chitepo. Chitepo whose father is one of the founding fathers of the country liberation struggle said that what is happening now has to be written as it is wrong and should be documented for prosperity.

“How can we build peace amongst ourselves let us look at what we can do as women, even if you are not a writer there is need to send a message,” said Chitepo. While the Zanu PF wing of the tenuous coalition government has been dragging feet on national healing. At one point President Robert Mugabe called for amnesty of all perpetrators of violence, however, Chitepo said that there is need to capture what is taking place in the country.

“Our national healing process could benefit if we write. There is need for us to find ways of living together peacefully,” she said. The death of Chitepo the father and the founding chairman of Zanu one of the most brilliant lawyers, is still shrouded in mystery.

Many people believe that the liberation ideals that drew such man like him to war have not been realised as is evidenced by the various forms of violence and intimidation replete in today Zimbabwe. Although the Zambian government launched an inquiry ostensibly to try and clear its own name. Their report, published a year later, did not provide answers and up to this day many people are still calling for an inquiry into the death.