Woman in Struggle
By Dr Irene ‘Ropa Rinopfuka’ Mahamba
Published by Mambo Press (1986)
ISBN: 0 86922 382 8

READING the book Woman in Struggle by Dr Irene Mahamba was not only refreshing, but also insightful.
With bookshelves full of books on the liberation struggle by Rhodesian writers, the book Woman in Struggle is one of the few by indigenes telling their side of the story.
Dr Mahamba whose Chimurenga name was ‘Ropa Rinopfuka’ is one of the hundreds of women who risked their lives and took part in the liberation struggle that birthed Zimbabwe’s independence.
For once, a woman speaks out and takes us through the role of women during the liberation struggle.
Theories are thrown around with some suggesting that the key role of women in the war was to satisfy the sexual desires of the male freedom fighters.
However, Dr Mahamba, a freedom fighter herself, takes us through the experiences of women during the struggle.
Set during the colonial era, the book revolves around the life of a young girl ‘Nyevenutsai’ and her journey from being a chimbwido till she joined the liberation struggle as a fighter.
Following the death of her aunt, Nyevenutsai was left to take care of her aunt’s children, Regererai and Tsungai.
As much as Nyevenutsai gladly accepted the role of being mother to her late aunt’s children, she was, however, against the idea of being wife to Nyandurai, her late aunt’s husband.
In her protest, Nyevenutsai runs away from home to seek help from her uncle Richard, a teacher at Silveira Secondary School in Bikita.
Uncle Richard not only offers Nyevenutsai a place to stay, but also a solution to her problems.
It was also during her stay at Uncle Richard’s place where she had her first encounter with the freedom fighters.
Nyevenutsai marvels and showers praises on the freedom fighters as she yearned to learn more about their operations.
“The other thing Ambuya talked of that interested me was the freedom fighters who were operating in the Bikita area at the time,” writes Dr Mahamba.
“I had heard many stories about them and worshipped them as heroes.”
Books by Rhodesian writers and other black sympathisers portray a picture that indigenes were not in support of the freedom fighters.
However, in her book, Dr Mahamba clearly shows that indeed freedom fighters were heroes not villains in the eyes of the locals as they were fighting for their liberation.
“Uncle went on to elaborate about the freedom fighters,” writes Dr Mahamba.
“He told me that they were those meant to help the people destroy the Smith regime and all forms of oppression.”
Dr Mahamba also brings out the reasons behind the taking up of arms by the blacks.
“…he went on to say that our land, taken away at colonisation, would become ours again,” writes Dr Mahamba.
“He explained that our people would stop being overcrowded in reserves where there is neither good soil for agriculture nor pastures for cattle.”
It was with the help of a group of freedom fighters who cautioned her father and Nyandurai against forcing Nyevenutsai from being married off to her uncle.
Nyevenutsai, who had dropped out of school after Grade Seven, was given another opportunity by her uncle to further her education.
To show her appreciation for what the freedom fighters had done for her, Nyevenutsai took up the role of chimbwido.
Nyevenutsai and her uncle’s children joined the other women and young girls to go to nearby bases to cook and wash clothes for the freedom fighters.
It was during her days at the bases Nyevenutsai witnessed battles when they were attacked by Rhodesian soldiers.
By attending pungwes, Nyevenutsai learnt about the history of ZANU PF, its objectives, reasons of the war and the types of guns used.
The sessions also helped Nyevenutsai appreciate that women too could join the war and fight side by side with men.
“Women can also fire guns and fight, provided they’re trained; muscle power isn’t very necessary,” writes Dr Mahamba.
Through the book, Dr Mahamba also shows how the freedom fighters helped to solve social disputes during the war.
During one of the pungwes, Nyevenutsai witnesses freedom fighters resolving a dispute between Maureen, the village prostitute and the married women who were blaming her for wrecking their homes.
In their judgment, the freedom fighters said both the guilty husbands and Maureen had to be punished.
By so doing, the freedom fighters were educating the people on the importance of treating men and women equally.
Upon completion of her studies, Nyevenutsai and her cousin, Luciene inform her Uncle Richard that they would be joining the liberation struggle as a freedom fighter.
The two leave for Mozambique for training.
Dr Mahamba brings out the fact that joining the war was a personal decision unlike what other writers would want the readers to believe that freedom fighters forced and at times abducted people to join the war.
Her book is indeed refreshing.