Andrew Meldrum in Matandele, Zimbabwe
SURROUNDED by government ministers and tribal chiefs, Sinqobile Mabhena appears a model of female subservience as she bows her head and modestly lowers her eyes. But this demure 23-year-old has rocked Zimbabwe’s traditional culture by becoming one of the first women to take on the powerful mantle of tribal chief.
“I know many people are opposed to me becoming chief because I am a woman,” said Mabhena. “I will prove to them that I can work as much as a man. Being a woman doesn’t mean you are disabled.”
Mabhena was installed last month as chief of the estimated 100 000 people of the Nswazi communal area in southern Zimbabwe. The ceremony featured dashing Ndebele warriors in leopard skin loincloths, old women in bone necklaces intoning the spirits of their ancestors, several choirs, drumming and, of course, a feast.
“I bring your community a Christmas present, your new chief, Sinqobile Mabhena,” said Zimbabwe’s minister for local Government John Nkomo to ululations and cheers.
“Chief Howard Mabhena died in 1993 and he had no son to succeed him. It therefore fell upon his eldest daughter, Sinqobile, to succeed him and she has taken up her chieftainship responsibilities with humility,” he said.
He explained that Mabhena’s investiture had been delayed by more than a year because of objections. “The government held lengthy discussions and the Nswazi people insisted they would rather have Sinqobile than a male chief who would not have been appointed by them. All’s well that ends well.”
A chief’s main responsibilities are to preside over hearings to settle family disputes and matters of property. “I want to look at all sides in any dispute and to be fair,” said Mabhena. “I don’t want to only take the woman’s side or to just take the man’s side.”
As well-wishers crowded round to congratulate Mabhena, she wiped tears from her eyes. “I just thought about this whole thing, the history, my father, the future, the responsibility, everything,” she said.
During the week Mabhena lives in Bulawayo, where she is studying to be a primary schoolteacher. She wears short skirts, high heels and has a boyfriend, who is a schoolteacher.
At weekends she goes back to her family’s rural home where she meets in council with the Mabhena clan’s elders.
Five other chiefs witnessed the event, as well as the governor of Matabeleland South province and the local MP. Her investiture, however, does not bring an end to the controversy. The ceremony was boycotted by several chiefs and political figures, and the attendance of 800 was smaller than the 2 000 that had been anticipated.
But Mabhena’s grandmother, Gogo Flora Masuku, is outspokenly in favour. “I am very, very happy to see a female chief. Women must stand up for their rights and advance their position. Women fought to end Rhodesia. We now have female Cabinet ministers and aeroplane pilots. Why not chiefs? Is the queen of Britain a man? Women can be leaders.”