Akashinga: The Brave Ones is a powerful documentary that sheds light on the empowering story of women who are taking on poaching in Africa. The film showcases a unique and innovative approach to environmental conservation and gender equality. The film follows a group of women from Zimbabwe who are trained to become rangers and protectors of elephants. These women, who come from backgrounds of poverty, abuse, and gender-based violence, have been able to transform their lives and communities through their work as rangers.
The film is set in the Lower Zambezi Valley where the African elephant is under threat from poachers seeking to sell their tusks on the black market. Intense training in combat, tracking, and survival skills is given to the women to prepare them for the challenging work of protecting elephants from poachers. Despite facing many obstacles, these women have shown that they can be effective protectors of wildlife and defenders of their communities.
The documentary features the tasks that the women face as rangers, including patrolling the borders of national parks, gathering intelligence on poaching activities, and carrying out arrests. There are also moments of reflection as the women discuss their past experiences of trauma and how their work as rangers has enabled them to find purpose and dignity.
Akashinga: The Brave Ones is an inspiring film that captures the courage and determination of these women. It showcases the impact that the protection and conservation of wildlife can have on local communities and the environment, while also highlighting the role that women can play in these efforts. The film is a call to action for all those who care about the future of wildlife and the empowerment of women.