Monica Chitupila

Chitupila was originally from Niassa Province.^[1] She became involved in the independence struggle,^[2] starting her training in 1967 in Nachingwea and rising to become the Provincial Commander of the FRELIMO Female Detachment in Niassa.^[3] Chitupila was a FRELIMO candidate in the 1977 parliamentary elections,^[4] in which she was one of the first group of 27 women elected to the People's Assembly.^[5] An employee of Fábrica Continental de Borracha,^[6] she was re-elected in 1986 and became the longest serving member of the FRELIMO central committee.^[2]