FRELIMO, or Liberation Front of Mozambique, was launched in 1962 by exiled Mozambicians to end colonialism and bring equality to the country. The movement was a strong force and that is partially credited to women.
“It is not only men who suffered from the exploitation of Portuguese. We are also exploited and discriminated against and we cannot sit by idly while the men do the fighting.” Female members of FRELIMO were fed up with sitting on the sidelines, and they wanted their chance to shoot their shot.
Women helped recruit new members, educate, and provide social welfare for Mozambicians. But as the women’s resistance grew within the movement, they demanded they get participation in military training. So in 1967, FRELIMO would allow women to fully participate in combat, exceeding the expectations male members had.
The women’s detachment gave birth to hundreds of female soldiers willing to lay everything on the line for their country. More importantly, it showed both men and women that they are stronger when in unison for all operations of their movement.
The women’s detachment in Mozambique showed women are crucial for our fight towards racial justice. We are more powerful together.