As Democracy Advocates: Women HRDs 35 Chapter 4 Profiling the Woman HRD in Zimbabwe 4.1 Why the woman HRD? The story of the woman HRD is seldom told by herself, with few women being profiled in a positive manner. One of the first and perhaps last researches on women HRDs in Zimbabwe is the Amnesty International Report of 2007 that sought to increase awareness on the predicament of women HRDs at risk, what motivated them, and their objectives.41 In this chapter, ZLHR seeks to complete the picture with women HRDs saying, in their own words, what has and continues to motivate them to carry out human rights work in Zimbabwe in spite of the safety and security risks they take. The voice of the woman HRD is heard and celebrated. This selection of 32 profiles is not conclusive but a sample of the women HRDs that ZLHR has had the pleasure of interacting with over the years. There are also some guest profiles that are included, of men who have defied patriarchal ideologies and have actively, and without fear of being stigmatised as “women”, championed the causes of women HRDs in Zimbabwe over the years. The profiles of these HRDs are truly inspirational. 4.2 Community activists Mbuya Felistas Chinyuku is a social justice activist and community builder. Chinyuku emerged as the face of resistance when the government embarked on its barbaric clean up exercise in 2005 – code named “Operation Murambatsvina” – that directly and indirectly affected millions of people. Aged 57 and a community social justice activist at the time, she confronted the government head-on and vigorously challenged the cruel and inhuman manner in which the destruction of homes was carried out. Leading a group of women, Chinyuku managed to secure several court orders against the government for its actions and raised the profile of the human rights violations by engaging the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Chinyuku has continued rallying women to fight for social justice and currently is pushing the government to honour its promises to provide shelter for Murambatsvina victims. According to her “Men were insulting us during Murambatsvina, accusing us of inciting women to rise against the government but we showed them that we are made of steel. Chombo (local government minister) even personally threatened me.” Chinyuku believes women are more tenacious human rights defenders because they are the worst affected by rights violations. Mbuya Leorcadia Sagwete is a community builder and social justice advocate. At 96 years of age and visibly frail, many would be inclined to just see out their retirement while quietly sulking about any injustice thrown at them. Not Leorcadia Sagwete, a retiree who has exhibited boundless energy in demanding constitutionally guaranteed rights, such as the right Amnesty International Between a rock and a hard place – women human rights defenders at risk available at <http://www.amnesty.ie/reports/zimbabwe-between-rock-and-hard-place-women-human-rights-defendersrisk> [Last accessed 1 March 2015]. 41