Julia Tukai Zvobgo

Julia Tukai Zvobgo (born Julia Tukai Whande; 8 November 1937 – 16 February 2004) was a Zimbabwean activist and politician.

Early life

Julia was the third born in a family of five girls and two boys. She did her primary education at three mission schools, later proceeding to Tegwani for her secondary education, and then enrolling for teacher training at Gutu Mission. Her husband was subsequently sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. Having become a member of Zanu at its formation in August 1963, Zvobgo and other young women bore the brunt of suppressive racist colonial rule which peaked under the Rhodesian Front.

Zvobgo's commitment to her family and nationalist values made her endure the constant harassment and torture at the hands of the Rhodesian security agents who accused her of smuggling political messages to and from her detained husband and his colleagues. Zvobgo was given the rare honor of becoming the fourth woman - after Sally Mugabe and Joanna Nkomo (wife of Joshua Nkomo) - to be declared a National Hero. She was buried at the National Heroes Acre, a shrine that honours Zimbabwe's independence fighters. It was announced on ZBC that President Mugabe would not attend her funeral as he was suffering from chest pains shortly after he celebrated his 80th birthday. However it is believed that President Mugabe did not attend the funeral as he was no longer on good terms with Zvobgo's husband, who was Mugabe's nemesis. Her husband died six months after her death. Ms. Julia was a member of the Methodist Church.