Hilda Mafudze told The Zimbabwean in a recent interview that a trip to Malaysia in 1996 for a women’s conference was a life-changing experience, which lured her into politics by enriching her perspective regarding the role she should play for the betterment of her fellow women and society in general.
“That trip changed everything. I came back with a whole new perspective on life and was determined that I would build on the momentum and do something completely different,” she said. Having grown up in Mhondoro, Mafudze felt that she could help her community achieve more through seeking political representation. She subsequently became an MDC Member of Parliament for Mhondoro constituency in Mashonaland West Province from 2000 to 2005.
Her journey into politics was not easy as people were gripped by fear owing to widespread violence, but she would not be deterred.
“Prior to the campaign of 1999-2000, I would never have predicted such levels of violence. I was shocked that perpetrators of violence wanted to stop me from exercising my freedom to represent the people. However, this only strengthened me and I resolved to carry on the campaign just to show that Zimbabwe is capable of being a democratic country where voters can fully exercise their rights,” she said.
Mafudze said she did not campaign on the basis of her gender, but saw herself more as a Zimbabwean and less as a woman.
“My opponents, nine men, tried to make gender an issue and use it against me but I had the strong support of my husband who encouraged me to stay in the race,” she said.
Violence was so rampant in Mhondoro such that each time Mafudze secured funding, the situation would turn chaotic and distract her from assisting the community.
“Violence raised its head whenever I had secured funding for various projects in my constituency. This only served to close the democratic space. When I contested for re-election in 2005 after delimitation, Mhondoro was cut into pieces and I had no option but to run in Manyame constituency, which still possessed the remnants of my previous constituency.
“However the level of violence was unprecedented. I could not even visit the polling stations to greet voters – most of whom were situated in fast track land resettlement areas. The environment was not conducive for a fair election,” she added.
During her term of office, she contributed towards the empowerment of women by constructing a girl’s hostel at Rio Tinto Secondary School and rehabilitating of latrines at Gora primary school.
Mafudze said her political affiliation was not affecting her diplomatic duties in Sudan as her mandate was to raise the flag of Zimbabwe. She said she faced huge challenges as a female ambassador in an Islamic state, dominated by religious tensions between Muslim North and Christian South.
“It was very hard for me at first when I would see every woman wrapped up. The whole body is wrapped up, even the head, leaving only the eyes,” she said. In addition, the language barrier meant she has to operate mostly with the aid of an interpreter.
Post published in: News