Opinion / Columnist
Heroes' Day: Zapu remembers its heroes and heroines.
08 Aug 2016 at 17:48hrs | Views
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.
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.
Source - Fiso Hikwa
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