by Linda Tsungirirai Masarira.
The recent events following the passing on of Dr. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, where the youths have been used or hired as instruments of violence within the MDC-T should not go down without condemnation by rational and progressive Zimbabweans. Let us all be able to stand up and expressly condemn the use of violence as tool of silencing voices of dissent within and amongst political parties. Voices of dissent should rather be accommodated as it is the much needed friction that triggers movement.
We need to deal with the social ill of harassment, abuse and violence against grieving widows. This is a norm that has been unchallenged since time immemorial which needs urgent redress. The patriarchal history of women oppression needs an elaborate program of conscientisation aimed at undoing the deep seated cultural beliefs and values. The alienation, emotional abuse and accusations of sorcery leveled against Elizabeth Tsvangirai by those who were supposed to be at the forefront of comforting her should be condemned by all Zimbabweans. The ill treatment of Elizabeth Tsvangirai coupled by the tokenization of women in Zimbabwe is one good reason women and like minded forces should rise up and fight chauvinism, gender inequality and patriarchal social order in society.
Zimbabwe Women in Politics Alliance is working towards redefining politics and the role of women in politics in Zimbabwe. We are against any form of abuse of women and we are not apologetic about it. Gogo Lydia Tsvangirai was manipulated by political midgets for political expediency. This kind of manipulation of the elderly citizens should stop forthwith. Dr Thokozani Khupe was held hostage by political dwarfs in giant robes at the funeral of Dr. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, sending a clear message of intolerance to the mourning Zimbabweans. Conflict resolution should be done in an amicable way which is not discriminatory, violent and chauvinistic. If such diabolic things can happen at a funeral one wonders what else these merchants of violence can do outside the glare of the media.
Intolerance to divergent views is one of the issues that the late Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai fought until his last breath. Let’s embrace the lesson from the doyen of democracy.
The harassment of Dr Thokozani Khupe and Lwazi Sibanda becomes yet another indication that the party is not a safe space for women.
To be continued…
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