first of a kind

The Chinese proverb – the faintest pencil is better than the sharpest memory is very true, I have had to remember things that happened 10 years ago because as they happened I did not write it down. Unbeknown to me, this is a significant piece of history that I have been sitting on. I am the first female to hold an executive position in the Student Council in March 2002 as a Secretary General at Africa University; I was in second year.

There I was, finally I had arrived at the most beautiful campus in Zimbabwe and was seated in the Main lecture theatre waiting for the SRC president to come and address the first years. I remember wondering why there was no woman in the executive, there only was one woman and she held the social welfare position, felt like something sour had just gotten into my mouth.

Being a very curious and extrovert of a first year, I wanted to know why ladies did not campaign for the higher offices, and I was told, it’s a lot of work and the guys never vote for the females. Also women being the majority of votes, did not vote for their own either, this made me realize we had a problem.

When the term of office for the present SRC was coming to an end, I was called into Mrs. (now DR) Gwaradzimba’s, she wanted me to run for an executive position and not campaign for the lowly positions. I remember requesting for the constitution because I wanted to know the responsibilities that came with the 3 top executive offices; President, Vice-President and the Secretary General. In March 2002 was when the elections were to be held.

I remember saying I don’t want people to vote for me because I am a woman, but because they believe I can make a positive and tangible change in the students body. I read the constitution and realized that the SG had significant powers and had more influence; I then decided to run for that office. Paul Munjenge, the out-going President volunteered to be my campaign manager, him being very popular, it worked to my advantage. I remember some of my fellow young women from the prior years, volunteering information that, AU since inception had never had a woman vying for such positions. The ladies gave me some history lessons, telling me that there were some who had tried before and had failed and I wasn’t any different or special and that I should exit the race before I was taken to the cleaners.

I was slightly shaken but I had already made u my mind, I wasn’t going to quit, throwing the towel was not an option for me because it was far greater than me. one thing I realized is women, we pull each other down I think it’s because we are afraid of challenging the status quo or we are jealous someone might actually succeed that which you are secretly wanting for yourself. My biggest challenge was to convince the women that I was worth their votes and I would make a different and not because I am a woman so therefore they should vote for me. I remember my posters were written such harsh words, some I cannot even write about, some wrote that you think you are the next Mai Mujuru, others called me a bull frog, others told me to join Mai Chisamba and leave politics for men; others wrote Margret Thatcher. It was so disheartening seeing your poster written such vulgar language, it was better and safer to not replace them because they became worse and more hurtful.

I remember walking to the library by myself and a group of guys approached to say if you want our votes, you have to buy alcohol for us, or we will make sure you lose this election. I said well then I will lose I will not buy votes because what else will you demand from me, and besides its instilling corruption. I remember on guy even proposing I slept with him to convince the guys to vote for me. My campaign manager advised me to stay put and focus on the female votes, because the females voted more than guys anyway. Now catch between a hard place and a rock, the women discouraging me and the guys wanting a bride, I just let it play, I did not want to owe anyone, or be controlled by those that thought put me into office after I had won.

I remember changing my strategy and seeking the foreign vote. Africa University has the Zimbabwe community and the other countries community, and they were also the next serious voters and at this point they were my best bet. The Zimbabwean vote was already split 5 ways because all SG candidates were Zimbabwean, but I had the advantage of being the only woman. I had spent my first year attending social function for the Angolans, Mozambicans and DRC communities, so I had a great allay. Unaware, I was already their favorite candidate and the ballot would speak for itself. It was believed that if you had the foreign vote, it was a definite win for you.

I remember the students paying attention to my campaign address on the chapel stairs at Africa University, however I had been warned people are likely to walk away during my speech, but to my surprise they wanted to hear what I had to say. When the voting came I won with a landslide, the next candidate was behind me by 300 votes. There were a total of 500 +/- that voted.

When the results were announced I felt like I was dreaming, it only sunk when I was being sworn into office.  This was a defining moment in the history of female student politics in Zimbabwe. However the ZUSA did not deliberately did not send me any invitations to the meetings, so in my term of office I never attended any ZUSA meetings because they deliberately omitted me from the mailing list. This also was fuelled with the fact the AU is not a state university so we were regarded as elitists and did not have the same problems as the rest of the universities.

During my term of office I sat on the senate and initiated the change of title for the bachelor in arts to bachelor of social sciences, the first group to graduate with the stated degree was the class of 2004, my year. Africa University also had its first food boycott, this was because the food prices were increasing and yet the quality and the quantity were deteriorating. I was pregnant actually the greater part of my time in office, but I did not let that get into the way of my passion and the students I was leading. In prior years when a student got pregnant they would be kicked out of residence, but I helped move a motion that they leave on the 8^th month two weeks before their delivery date, and this still stands to this day. In this regard, the male student would be asked to exit the residence as well.

This is also the only term that the student union funds made a profit, unlike in the history where corruption was the order of the day. The team, despite being the only woman, respected me and always valued my opinion. Despite the challenges and the dynamics of being the first, my term of office will forever be one of my most defining moments. I was the first and broke through the glass ceiling!!!!

writing your story is essential.

there are a lot of things that the Chinese have said and done that i don't agree with; however the proverb - the faintest pencil is better than the sharpest memory is true! History will be distorted because,  i for one do not have a culture of writing. Ntando my friend is an amazing writer, she doesn't tire at all, she will write and write, i admire that about her, among other things. I have realized that everyone has a story to tell, and no one can tell it for you unless you write it.

so now i have this article  have to write because its such a huge piece of history that i did not document. so i encourage all of us to write write and write!!!!!

Body Politics

I have since learned that my body is like a parliament, thee are a lot of parliamentarians with constituencies within my body and everyone whats to have a say on how things should be run within he country of my body. Culture, the law, my parents, my friends, the media, music, politics, aunts and what i should do  my body. Do not be fooled, your body is under serious politics, some see you as land, there is even politics in that land. this body is mine, why is it everyone else wants to control what i do with my body.

people strive to exercise control of women's bodies by attempting to control mobility.

there is war going on, its the .....isms war

i have realized that there is a war going on, and a lot of people will not even dare challenge the status quo, people like us have been labelled as rebels because we question and question. i want to challenge you to question what you are experiencing now.