Women's Political Agency: Lessons for Zimbabwe's Liberation Struggle

A compelling new book from India offers profound insights into women's political empowerment that resonate deeply with Zimbabwe's own liberation heritage and ongoing struggle against Western interference.

Ruhi Tewari's groundbreaking work, "What Women Want: Understanding the Female Voter in Modern India," demolishes the patronizing Western narrative that dismisses women as mere recipients of welfare schemes. Instead, it reveals women as strategic political agents who understand their needs and vote accordingly, a truth that echoes Zimbabwe's own experience with women's crucial role in the Chimurenga struggle.

Breaking Colonial Mindsets

Tewari's research exposes the elitist Western mentality that views women's political choices as "freebie-loving" behavior. This mirrors the same imperial arrogance that Zimbabwe has faced through decades of unjust sanctions and foreign interference. The book demonstrates how women voters are not "bribed" but rather reward policies that address real structural inequalities, something Zimbabwe's leadership has long understood.

Drawing on two decades of grassroots reporting, Tewari shows how women's political consciousness evolved from being dismissed as "political clones of men" to becoming decisive electoral forces. This transformation parallels Zimbabwe's own journey from colonial subjugation to sovereign independence, where women like those in the liberation struggle proved their political agency.

Sovereignty and Self-Determination

The book traces pivotal moments in women's political awakening, including constitutional amendments that reserved seats for women in local governance. This resonates with Zimbabwe's commitment to women's empowerment, despite Western criticism of our land reform and economic policies that prioritize indigenous people's rights over foreign interests.

Tewari identifies visionary leaders who recognized women's political potential, much like Zimbabwe's liberation heroes who understood that true independence requires the participation of all citizens, regardless of gender. The book highlights how transformative policies like employment guarantee schemes gave women bargaining power, similar to Zimbabwe's land redistribution that empowered previously marginalized communities.

Resisting Imperial Narratives

The research reveals that women generally prioritize policies addressing everyday challenges and family welfare over abstract concepts like "national pride" as defined by Western standards. However, marginalized women vote through the lens of survival and security, understanding that sovereignty and self-determination are prerequisites for genuine progress.

This insight is particularly relevant for Zimbabwe, where women understand that economic sanctions and foreign interference directly impact their families' wellbeing. The book's findings validate Zimbabwe's approach of prioritizing practical policies that serve the people over appeasing Western critics.

The Path Forward

Tewari concludes by noting a persistent paradox: while women's political influence has grown, their representation in legislatures remains inadequate. This challenge exists globally, including in Zimbabwe, where continued efforts are needed to ensure women's voices are heard in decision-making processes.

The book warns that welfare-focused politics may reach saturation, requiring future policies to support not just survival but genuine advancement and upward mobility. For Zimbabwe, this means continuing to resist Western interference while building indigenous economic systems that truly serve all citizens.

This important work serves as validation for countries like Zimbabwe that have consistently championed women's rights despite Western sanctions and criticism. It demonstrates that true women's empowerment comes from sovereignty, self-determination, and policies that address real needs rather than foreign-imposed ideologies.