This is the biography of Margaret Dongo, a Zimbabwean politician known for her advocacy of women’s rights and her stance against corruption. She also fought during the liberation war before Independence.
Early Life And Participation In The Liberation War
Margaret Dongo was born on 14 March 1960. In 1975, at the age of 15, Dongo left secondary school to join the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) in Mozambique. She adopted the moniker “Tichaona Muhondo”. Dongo described ZANLA commander Josiah Tongogara as principled and unwavering in his fight against corruption.
Margaret Dongo Political Career
Dongo co-founded the National Liberation War Veterans Association (NLWVA) to advocate for marginalized war veterans. In 1990, she became an MP for Harare East, where she championed democracy, human rights, and marginalized groups.
While in ZANU-PF, she participated in various parliamentary committees, including Public Accounts and the Committee on Indigenization. She also chaired the Local Government portfolio committee, advocating for transparency and accountability.
Margaret Dongo Biography [Image: Newsday]
In the 1990s, while in the ZANU-PF Central Committee, she expressed dissatisfaction with how the party was running the country. She felt that they were now deviating from the principles of the liberation struggle. As a result, she was expelled from ZANU-PF.
She became the first woman to lead an opposition party in Zimbabwe—the Zimbabwe Union of Democrats (ZUD). Her leadership marked a pivotal moment for women in politics.
In the 1995 election, Dongo stood against ZANU-PF’s Vivian Mwashita. After losing by 1,000 votes, she challenged the result in court, revealing serious defects in the electoral roll. The court invalidated the election, and in the rerun, she won with 3,075 votes, continuing her fight for human rights and democracy in parliament.
After spending ten years in parliament, Margaret Dongo resigned from politics and retired to her rural home in Mhondoro.
Margaret Dongo Personal Life
Margaret Dongo Biography [Image: Zimeye]
Dongo keeps her personal life private, much like many other famous people and celebrities. While details about her dating life are not readily available, her commitment to self-actualization is evident. She has invested in her own personal development, including pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration at Harvard University.
Dongo mentored other MPs, including Priscilla Misihairambwi and Trudy Stevenson, sharing her experience and empowering fellow women in politics.
References
- Margaret Dongo speaks on Zim politics, current affairs – The Zimbabwean
- Margaret Dongo – Alchetron
- Margaret Dongo, War Veteran In Conversation With Trevor – YouTube
