International Women’s Day: Women Must Take Up Arms
On 8 March 1971, more than 200 women delegates attended a rally in Lusaka, Zambia, called jointly by women of the liberation movements of Southern Africa to commemorate March 8th, International Women’s Day, and March 2nd, Angola Women’s Day.
Chairperson of the meeting, Ms Maria Santos, from the MPLA (People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola), explained how on March 2nd, 1967, five MPLA women returning from the combat front had been captured and brutally murdered by Portuguese soldiers. “The arduous fight that Angolan women are carrying out with their people in arms is the best homage to those who have died in our struggle”, she declared.
On behalf of the Women’s Section of the African National Congress (ANC), Ms Edna Mgabaza, appealed to women to take up arms and fight side by side with men to liberate their homelands. “International Women’s Day was observed for the first time in 1911, when a million women took part. It was the biggest ever manifestation of equality and peace. From then on, March 8 th was taken up by women the world over in their struggle against exploitation, male domination and war,” said Ms Mgabaza.
“We are also commemorating the 2nd March, Angola Women’s Day – the anniversary of the murder of five women militants of MPLA. We of the ANC of South Africa hail these gallant daughters of Angola. We say, our blood and the blood of all the people of our oppressed count
