The decoloniality of Women Leadership in Zimbabwe

(*Written by Fadzai D Mutodza-Sibanda and Shevedzo Chitokwindo

Perceptions of gender roles were triggered recently across social media platforms after the publication of “Vogue," which saw Rihanna taking the leading affirmative role. At the same time, Travis Scott followed behind her carrying their son.

Young Zimbabwean women like Chido Mpemba, Tadzi Madzima and Tammy Moyo have taken on leadership roles in various industries. When we look closely at African history, their actions in leadership have embraced African culture and decoloniality. While some social media influencers like Shadaya scorned this position as showing the “emasculation of men”, the question of whether gender roles are indigenous African practices or borrowed Western cultures is raised, as is the question of whether having women in power is dissolving cultural traditions in Zimbabwe.

Even though the African culture has been patriarchal, the condemnation of women in power came from Western beliefs, which at the time believed a woman’s place was in the kitchen and caring for the family. During pre-colonialism, African women were greatly respected and took significant positions as political leaders and even army commanders, including women like Queen Nzinga Mbande of Angola.

Chido Cleopatra Mpemba is a young Zimbabwean woman who has done a lot to raise the Zimbabwean flag both at home and in the rest of the world. She is the Youth Envoy for the African Union, and she has worked on youth-related issues with several world leaders.

Miss Mpemba's selection as a youth envoy from Zimbabwe was a big step forward for young people and women in the history of the African Union. In a continent with high patriarchal issues, Miss Mpemba broke records. She paved the way for ladies to lead in a formerly male-dominated industry, as did many great women who led political groups and movements in the pre-colonial era.

Another phenomenal young lady leading exceptionally in Zimbabwe is Ms Tadzie Madzima, as she has been able to define female leadership significantly. She is the founder and director of Ignite Youth Zimbabwe, which has discovered, nurtured, and recognized the talent of Zimbabwean youth over the years, in addition to the plethora of humanitarian work the organization has participated in. Special attention needs to be paid to how the organization’s networking events have united the young people for a robust development for the youth, by the youth. It is safe to say that the multi-award-winning Tadzie Madzima is doing an amazing job and is an inspiration to many other women.

Women have been making strides in all avenues, upholding the high respect given to women in pre-colonial Zimbabwe. Another great example is the phenomenal Thamsanqa “Tamy” Moyo, otherwise popularly nicknamed the queen of Afro-pop in Zimbabwe.

Releasing her first song, ‘ndibereke’ in 2016, at only 18 years old, was a breakthrough she and the Zimbabwean music industry needed. She has not returned since and has positively influenced other young people through her music, such as her song featuring Dobba Don and the rapper Takura, “you’re Beautiful.”

In this song, she tells the girl child that she is beautiful just the way she is. She has undeniably brought positivity to girls and has survived the music industry through her consistency. One could say that she has shown that the future is indeed female and that it is possible to thrive in a male-dominated industry regardless of age or gender.

Through these remarkable young ladies, one can see that women can do what men can, if not better. They have done a fantastic job excelling in male-dominated industries and continue to show lots of potential for the future.

There is a lot of disagreement about whether women taking on leadership roles make men weaker, since women's participation and leadership go back further than colonization. Therefore, the work being done by women in leadership, like the ones mentioned in this article, is exceptional in enforcing decoloniality and ensuring male emasculation issues are dealt with in a way that ensures they do not promote inaccurate outlooks on women and their expected roles within society. Zimbabwean women have shown beyond reasonable doubt that they can and will. As we celebrate women’s month, we concur with the famous quote, “Here are too many strong women, may we know them, may we be them, and may we raise them.”