Press Statement|Fellow Zimbabweans and to particularly the activists and women that I am an affiliate to in the struggle against gross violation of human rights and oppression of women, all Retrenched and Terminated Employees and to all my brothers and sisters graduating in to the streets, I greet you all in the name of land of a good life that we are marching towards. Yesterday I made a bold step to become part of a movement whose vision and mission is compatible with my desires as a woman in Zimbabwe. My desire is to see the absence of people seated before a round table, u shaped or in any form, discussing the issues of women emancipation or gender discrimination. In the 21st Century these shouldn’t be discussed at all. It should just be automatic that women have an equal and important role in the decision making processes of a nation. My vision is to see us women equally yoked to our God given partners, who are none other than menfolk in pursuit of prosperity in our nation.

Religious personnel would agree with me that God himself could not allow a world of men but a world of both men and women, because of that women were created as the rightful, fitting and important human capital to assist men in partnering with them in all spheres of life. And not only to be co- partners but even to excel and lead from the front. Reading in history we have many examples who did well and notably well. Their lives give us women faith today that we can rise up and ensure that there is real change that we desire for ourselves and more importantly for our children’s children.

I am coming from a background of labour. I spent most of my working adult life in the NRZ where i was at the forefront of leading protests and strikes in the endeavour to uphold and defend the rights and interests of workers. My last occupation was a job that was strictly considered men’s job. While in that occupation I drew inspiration that nothing that men can do may not be done by women.

After the termination of my employment through the infamous Supreme Court ruling dubbed Zuva Judgement I moved into activism. I shall not dwell much on that since the internet is awash with all the activities that I was part of from 2015 to date including my unjust incarceration by the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Having mingled and networked with so many people who were fighting for and continue to fight for socio political development and socio economic stabilisation, I declared my interest to represent the people of Harare Central as an independent candidate. That decision was informed by many things. I didn’t want to tow any party line that didn’t subscribe to fundamental labour and human rights nor to follow personalities. I value principles. However, there are issues that are beyond the constituency. National issues that I cannot push alone eg. labour rights, Socioeconomic justice and equality. These issues go beyond my constituency and have been troubling me for a while. For that reason i began the search for political institutions that I could become part of, it is unfortunate that at that time there was none that impressed me.

I believe corporate bodies must have institutional intelligence and a clear vision that is owned by the people and that is not personallised. A question can then be asked, have I found one!

In studying the life of Dr Thokhozani Khupe, there are certain weaknesses that I found at first. Not only at first sight but over a period of time. In the process of time, I saw her weaknesses being turned into courage, boldness and a fearlessness coupled to a woman of vision. Her vision and Team vision are compatible. They dovetail with the purpose for which I exist. My desires – emancipation of women and creation of prosperity in a society where women are not only equal to men, but both make use of, and create opportunities to excel above the men not just from competition but from merit and virtue. At this stage the life of Dr Thokhozani Khupe could be said it is headed for the direction where she has become a capable, intelligent and virtous woman, a patriotic military advisor like Deborah, a woman of constancy like Ruth, the ideal mother like Hannah, hospitable as the Shunamite, a revealor of secrets to National leaders like Huldah and even more than Queen Esther the woman who risked sacrificing her life for her people. This excellence has been seen in her commitment to fight breast cancer, and practical life devoted to the cause of women emancipation and to confront patriarchal dominance peacefully and insisting on what rightfully belongs to her which those that scoff at the guiding constitutions and tenets of life wanted to wrest from her. It is because of that practical devotion that permeated all relationships in her life that I am here today.

Indeed I have found a political home with the MDCT led by Thokozani Khupe.

#TogetherWeCan #ChinjaMaitiro

I thank you

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira