Ruth Chinamano
Ruth Lottie Nomonde Chinamano (1925-2005) was born on 16/02/1925 in Cape town South Africa. A Xhosa by birth, she grew up in East Grinqualand now (Matatiele). Like any other child she went to a local primary school and completed further education, completing her teacher's training course at Maria Zell Teacher's Training College in 1948.
She taught at Lourdes School located at the border of Cape and Natal. While on holiday in 1949 in Port Elizabeth she met Josiah Mushore Chinamano whom she later married in 1950.Shortly after their marriage they moved to Rhodesia currently Zimbabwe. She carried on with her teaching in Waddilove Mission in Marondera.
Mama Ruth started showing her political collars while in East Griqualand, by challenging racial discrimination. Ruth and Mrs Parirenyatwa and a few other women staged the first Black Sash demonstration against the detention of veteran nationalists. She was one of the founder members of NDP (National Democratic Party). She even offered the back of her shop in Highfield to be used as an office for NDP.
When NDP got banned, she joined ZAPU and got elected as secretary of the Salisbury district of ZAWU. She also headed the women's wing as secretary of Highfield branch of the peoples care taker council (PCC). When some people went to join ZANU from ZAPU Ruth remained with ZAPU. She was the only woman that was detained at Gonakudzingwa and she was later transferred to Whawha prison in Gwelo. ln 1970 they were released with some confinement conditions but re-arrested soon after that. She was released in 1974. That is when they left Rhodesia and went to exile in Zambia till 1980.
She came back to Rhodesia. After the first 1980 elections that brought the so called Zimbabwe independence, she became member of parliament and held this position till the Unity Accord that was signed by the Late Joshua Mqabuko ka Nyongolo Tjibwe Tjitedza Nkomo and the despot, Robert Gabriel Mugabe which followed the massacre of thousands of innocent people from mostly in Matabeleland and Midlands. This is the accord that brought a defacto one party state that brought Zimbabwe to its knees. Mama Ruth never gave up politics, she was an advocate for women and empowered women throughout her political life. She was also a vocal parliamentarian who made valuable contributions. She fought till the end .She died on 02/01/2005, having played a big role in Zimbabwean Politics. She was declared a hero and was laid to rest ln the National Heroes' Acre . She was a role model for many women in politics in general and ZAWU in particular. Bomama let us take over from where she left and keep ZAPU and ZAWU alive,vocal and visible. Arise ZAWU Arise! Ziiiiiiiiiiii.
"Merck More than a Mother" supports Jackline Mwende - a Victim of Infertility Stigma in Kenya
Through "Empowering Berna" Project, Merck aims to empower infertile women economically and socially across Africa
NAIROBI, Kenya, August 8, 2016/APO/ --
"Merck More than a Mother" (www.MerckGroup.com) initiative will support Jackline Mwende, the recent victim of infertility stigma, throughout the rest of her life after having her hands chopped off by her husband for failing to bear children. Merck aims to empower infertile women across the continent through access to information, health and change of mind-set through their initiative that been launched in June 2015 "More than a Mother"
"JackelineMwende, a young woman of 27 years from Machakos County in Kenya whose both hands were chopped off - not by thieves but by her own husband for failing to bear children. It is so shocking that someone would go to such an extent to batter his own wife and leave her nearly dead. Infertility should never be a reason to separate, hurt or kill your partner. There are so many options out there available to manage infertility" said Hon. Joyce Lay, Member of Parliament and the Ambassador for ‘Merck More than a Mother' in Kenya.
"Through -Empowering Berna-project, Merck will support Jackeline Mwende throughout the rest of her life to empower and enable her to become an independent productive member in society. ‘Merck More than a Mother' initiative will provide Mwende with a monthly income of $250 , then will establish a business for her in which she will be able to generate a sustainable monthly income of not less than $250. At the same time Merck will provide her with prosthetic hands in addition to the needed physical and physiological rehabilitation to enable her to support herself and stand on her own two feet despite the challenge of her brutal disability that was caused by the stigma of infertility – even though her husband is the one who was found with the infertility problem, yet she is still the one who bore the devastating consequences of the public stigma associated with it." said Kelej.
"Mwende didn't deserve what she went through and especially that her husband is the one who was found with the infertility problem and not her. Society, government and all stakeholders need to continue to join hands with Merck in their campaign to encourage the acceptance people live with infertility because the stigma associated with infertility puts pressure on them to a point where they do crazy and criminal things. We need to know that it's a shared responsibility, not just for the couple but for the society too," Joyce Lay added.
"Jackline Mwende's story is the reason all people should appreciate ‘Merck More than a Mother' initiative. No sane person should torture a woman for failing to produce children. Men should not think that their failure to be a biological father is due to women's infertility. Why torture a fellow human being and inflict such permanent bodily harm for a fault that could be yours?. No amount of justice in the courts of law will bring back Mwende's arms. Justice will only prevail if Mwende's case marks a turning point in society that appreciates one fact- "that women are women irrespective of their ability to bear children. They need to be respected," emphasized Hon. Sarah Opendi, Uganda Minister of State of Health and Uganda ambassador of Merck more than a Mother.
"This terrible violence Mwende suffered ny5tghas emphasized the significance of ‘Merck More than a Mother' initiative for Africa. ‘Merck More than a Mother' will continue working closely with partners to create a culture shift and to empower infertile women economically and socially through "Empowering Berna" Project to ensure no other woman in Africa should ever go through such violence, humiliation or misery again," Rasha Kelej emphasized.
Distributed by APO on behalf of Kariuki Communication.
Media Contact:
Lizabeth Kariuki - Editor
Kariuki communication.
lizbethkariuki@gmail.com
About "Merck more than a Mother" initiative (www.MerckGroup.com):
In many cultures, childless women still suffer discrimination, stigma and ostracism. Infertility can transform from an acute, private distress into a harsh public stigma with complex and devastating consequences. An inability to have a child or to become pregnant can result in being greatly isolated, disinherited or assaulted. This may result in divorce or physical and psychological violence.
"Merck More than a Mother" initiative aims to define interventions to reduce the stigma and social suffering of infertile women, empower them and raise awareness about male infertility and the necessity for a team approach to family building among couplesacross the continent.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lower levels of development are thought to be associated with higher levels of non-genetic and preventable causes of infertility. For instance, poor nutrition, untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unsafe abortion, consequences of infections caused by the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) or child marriage, exposure to smoking, leaded petrol and other environmental pollutants can lead to infertility.
About "Empowering Berna" Project:
"It is very important to empower infertile women through improving access to awareness, health and change of mindset so they can bear children as part of their human rights. In case they can no longer be treated, ‘Empowering Berna' project will contribute towards empowering and training them to establish their own small business so that they can be independent and re-build their own lives, a woman is more than a mother, ‘Empowering Berna' initiative will prove this every day." Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer of Merck Healthcare.
To watch the transformation of childless women after meeting "Merck more than a Mother" please watch videos below:
Stories of four infertile women who have been supported through the "Empowering Berna" Project:
Merck More Than A Mother - The Story of Empowering Grace Kambini - http://apo.af/KJy7Id
Merck More Than a Mother with Berna Amullen, Uganda - http://apo.af/WyqXYp
Merck More Than A Mother - The Story of Empowering Noonkipa Mpalush - http://apo.af/LKUDh6
The harrowing story of Jackeline Mwende , a victim of infertility Stigma in Africa :
JacklineMwendeMunywoki from Machakos, Kenya is the recent victim of the brutal physical and psychological assault that women in Africa face as a result of being infertile and are unable to bear children even when they are not the ones with the problem. She recently had her hands chopped off by her husband of five years for not conceiving and giving birth.
JacklineMwendewho says she had a stable upbringing, in a loving home where she grew up with six of her siblings narrates how she came to lose her hands because of not being able to have children in her marriage.
Her parents did their best to take her to school from kindergarten up to primary school class 8. Upon completing her studies, Mwende enrolled in a tailoring school where she learnt how to sew and make garments. It was at this school that she met and fell in love with Stephen Ngila – her husband. They got married in 2011.
"A year into the marriage and with no child, I began to notice changes in my husband. He had picked up bad habits such as drinking alcohol and started to become abusive. It was at this point that I confided in my parents, who were also wondering why I had not become pregnant yet. They advised me to leave the marriage since it was becoming abusive," Mwende narrates.
"As an avid church goer, I also sought advice from my pastor," she adds. Even at the start of the violence in the marriage, both she and Ngila would go to seek counselling from him.The pastor advised both of them to live in harmony; however, Ngila ignored. The pastor advised her to stay with her husband, of which she tried as long as she could.
Both Mwende and Ngila went to hospital for diagnosis. It was confirmed that Ngila- the husband- was infertile. "I constantly pleaded with Ngila to go to hospital to seek a treatment for his infertility, but he always made up excuses. He would say that he would go after work but never did," she says sadly.
Their marriage continued to get strained and the abuse increased because Mwende had not borne a child. On several occasions, the couple wound up at the police station due to their fights and arguments. The couple eventually separated and Mwende set up her own small shop from where she was getting some income to support herself and even her parents.
On August 1st 2016 in the evening, Mwende was peacefully eating her dinner when she heard a knock on the door. When she went to open the door, Ngina who was drunk started to attack her with a panga machete and cut off her left hand. In shock, Mwendecollapsed on the floor while Ngina continued to hit her with the machete on her face, and cut off her other right hand.
"Today you have decided to kill me?" Mwende recalls screaming at Ngila. His intent was to kill her, but she continued screaming until her neighbours came to her rescue and Ngila escaped. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and she is currently on medication and nursing her wounds – which will always be a constant reminder that the reason she is in the state she is now is because she never bore any children.
"If it is God's will that I do not have a child, I am content with this," Mwende bravely said. She is hopeful for her future and grateful for all the support the community has given her. She would not like any other couple to go through what she has experienced and advises couples to seek solutions together if they cannot have a child, and visit the hospital for check-up's regularly.
Source - Fiso Hikwa
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