The Wise Women Tradition in 2 Samuel as Backdrop for Women Participation in Public Spheres in Zimbabwe

There are two cases in 2Samuel where women are presented as wise and provided state security (2 Sam.14:1-20; 20:16-22). These stories provide the backdrop of women participation in public spheres. This research responds to the question: What stimulates women participation in public spheres like that in Zimbabwe? This research proposes that women participation in public spheres is stimulated by biblical evidence in text such as 2Samuel. Originally the Hebrew word for wisdom is feminine in gender. This is supported by the two references of wise women who participated in the public spheres though not specifically employed for that purpose. It is from this point that women contribution to the liberation struggle and subsequently in politics should not be underestimated. Following the legacies established by Mbuya Nehanda and the rhetoric thereof during the First Chimurenga War, contemporary emphasis on female participation in politics should be understood in the backdrop of the biblical context as well. This research uses Biblio-drama as the model of biblical scholarship and legitimate for analysing the participation of women in the politics of the day in general and women participation in public spheres. Precisely this research stimulates women involvement in politician the current age where the bible and oral contemporary history is valued.

Keywords: Wise women; tradition; backdrop, political theological perspective, women participation; state security.