When is National Women's Day?
Women's Day is a public holiday in Mozambique, observed on April 7th. If April 7th falls on a Sunday, Monday April 8th will be observed as a holiday.
Also known as the National Day of Women, this day marks the anniversary of Josina Muthemba Machel's death on April 7th 1971. Josina was a key figure in the struggle for the emancipation of African women.
History of Women's Day
Since her late teens, Josina had shown her desire to see Mozambique gain independence. While she was still 19, she fled Mozambique to join the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO), then based in Tanzania.
Josina received military training and rose through the ranks of FRELIMO to become the head of the party's Department of Social Affairs in 1969, while still only 24.
Josina was a strong advocate of the participation of women in the liberation struggle, and she was an icon for the Women's Movement of Mozambique.
In 1969, she married Samora Machel, who would go on to become the first President of Mozambique in 1975.
In 1970, Josina was diagnosed with liver cancer. Undeterred, Josina continued with her work with FRELIMO, unless March 1971, when chronic fatigue forced her to stop. Her condition soon deteriorated and she died on April 7th 1971, at the age of 25.
The anniversary of her death has been marked by National Women's Day since 1972.
Having a public holiday celebrate a specific female is very rare; there are only a few other examples worldwide, which is an indication of the high esteem in which Mozambiqans hold the memory of Josina Muthemba Machel.
