Although she was a skilled seamstress with a cutting and designing certificate, Sidhuna fell victim to the ill effects of the Zimbabwean patriarchal culture as her second husband would not allow her to go to work. When he died in 2005 his family blamed her for his death.
Her late husband’s family took everything the couple had. They even collected all the benefits from the company where he used to work, leaving Sidhuna with nothing. As if this was not enough, the community around her were unfriendly and treated her like an outcast.
Glimmer of light
After many dark years of misfortune and unhappiness, a glimmer of light finally appeared in 2012 when she joined the Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) in Marigidi Village in Ward 22 of Nyanga District. This is a group formed to improve the lives of rural women by providing them with a platform on which to share ideas and develop skills to fight poverty, stop gender based violence and fight for the rights of women.
Since 2010 ActionAid Zimbabwe has provided capacity building to its eight Local Development Programme (LDP) partners including the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT) Nyanga, which set up the RWA.
Sidhuna credits these organisations with saving her life. Through hard work, responsibility and knowledge gained, she became the chairperson of a group of women from her village. She and nine others started the RWA initiative to empower poor rural women to stand on their own feet and make decisions on matters concerning their homes and their families.
Training
“As a group we received training on buying and selling and how to start up our own businesses. We completed the training and everyone in the group now has income generating skills.
Our group connects with other RWA structures at Ward level in Nyanga, where 100 other women are part of the organisation,” she said. She used her cutting and designing skills to teach and enable the group to venture into sewing as an income generating project. FACT Nyanga, in partnership with AA Zimbabwe, provided them with five sewing machines and material to kick-start their project.
Without a man
“Our group raises funds through income savings and lending and dress-making. This has been a turning point for many of the women in the group as we are showing a profit,” she said.
Sidhuna has negotiated contracts to sew school and sporting uniforms for schools in Nyanga, Rusape and Mutare. She also supplies uniforms to Marist Brothers and St Mary’s Magdalene schools in Nyanga, while in Mutare she supplies gowns to Happy Children Crèche and school uniforms for Border Home Private School.
In addition she supplies t/shirts and banners and regalia for various NGOs, including FACT and ActionAid.
From the profits earned and with no man to lean on, she managed to build a two-bedroomed house last year. “I will not let anyone hold me down, enough is enough. Marriage is no longer an option, I am better off without a man,” she said.
Sidhuna’s story is an inspiration to many women in the village who know her history. Her success shines every day as she has become a light for other women from her ward. This twice widowed mother of two children is making her way in life and bearing all the burdens and joys of motherhood single-handedly.
“Life was not easy. Being a widow for a second time, l sold the only things I had left – my bed and a wardrobe – so that I could care for my children,” she said in tears. Being the hard worker that she is, she managed to send her son to boarding school this year. “It is usual for the elite to send their children to boarding school, but very rare in rural areas like Nyanga where people’s livelihoods are mainly subsistence farming. But now I have done it and I am very proud of myself,” she said.
“I want other women to know that a widow can do great things and achieve anything. The sky is the limit, right now I aim to get my driver’s licence as I would like to buy a car,” she said, oozing confidence.
Bare hands
At home she is a proud owner of a piece of land where, with her bare hands, she has built a pig-sty for rearing pigs as another income generating project. She is also doing good deeds by helping three orphans in her village with food and uniforms.
The local headman, John Samhembere, said Sidhuna has indeed set a good example to other women in the community. “I hope to see women, especially widows, working hard and making it in life. I want the women in my village to follow in her footsteps,” he said.
He encouraged other NGOS and partners to establish programmes that give life skills to rural people.
Post published in: Gender Equality