Two years ago, during the African Wildlife Economy Summit in Victoria Falls, I met an amazing woman with whom I would later form a beautiful friendship. She was a Sergeant in the Akashinga; a special anti-poaching unit in Zimbabwe, consisting of only women. Akashinga, of Shona origin means ‘The brave ones’.
This woman, Sergeant Vimbai Kumire, was coming to present the work of her unit and share her personal story with an audience of over 500 attendees that included government delegates from across the continent, representatives of international organizations, academics, scientists, conservationists and the curious.
I was intrigued from the start as the presenter described Sergeant Kumire as a fierce leader, a warrior with boundless courage, yet my eyes were on the stage, on the figure of a slender, medium-sized, broad-shouldered, shaven-headed woman wearing a tight black dress and high heels.
She approached the microphone and in a firm voice began – ‘Good morning gentlemen and ladies, I am Sergeant Vimbai Kumire, I am 33 years old and I am the leader of two squads of women who patrol the protected area of Phundundu in Zimbabwe.’In this area reside around eleven thousand elephants. ‘ Kumire continued – ‘Here the Akashinga we have learned to love the wild animals as if they were our own children, so we will not let anything or anyone endanger the lives of these animals.’
As I progressed, images of uniformed and armed women crossing rivers and handcuffing poachers appeared on the screen. I learned that these female inspectors are in the first line of combat where they are always ready to face the worst of situations. This is why the Akashinga are subjected to tough training where they must overcome the ‘4 pillars of misery’; hunger, fatigue, cold and water. But they are invincible.
March is women’s month and as a feminist, I couldn’t help but honor all the women who like my friend, ‘The Brave One’ are dedicated to conservation.
During the coffee break, enchanted with this women’s revolutionary movement I had just discovered, I went to meet Kumire and asked her, one woman to another, where so much strength comes from to which she replied – ‘My husband abandoned me and left me with two daughters’ – said Kumire – ‘when the International Foundation Against Poaching started the women’s recruitment program in my village, I didn’t hesitate.
For years I was subjected to abuse and mistreatment so I was not afraid to face this challenge. In fact, all Akashinga women have experienced similar situations, that’s why we are here. Who better to protect endangered animals than women themselves who know what it is like to be a victim of abuse and mistreatment? ‘
March is women’s month and as a feminist, I couldn’t help but honor all the women who like my friend, ‘The Brave One’ are dedicated to conservation.
