Zimbabwe Women Hand Over Anti-Violence Petition to President of Senate

Vice-President Mujuru, Zanu-PF secretary for Women’s Affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri (left) and President of the Senate Cde Edna Madzongwe exchange notes during celebrations marking the conferring of Cde Mujuru with the Distinguished African Amazon Award., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Women handover violence petition

Saturday, 02 March 2013 00:00
Paidamoyo Chipunza Herald Reporter

WOMEN from the three political parties in the inclusive Government yesterday handed over a petition to Senate president Cde Edna Madzongwe over rising cases of violence against women and children in Zimbabwe ahead of the referendum and general elections.

The petition was signed by Zanu-PF secretary for women’s affairs, Cde Oppah Muchinguri, MDC-T women’s assembly secretary general Ms Sibusisiwe Masara and MDC women’s assembly secretary general Mrs Thandiwe Mlilo.

The women cited the recent death of Christpower Maisiri, attack on Hurungwe West MP Cde Sarah Mahoka and the rape and murder of 11-year-old Stacey Munjoma in Rugare, Harare last week as causes of great concern

“We want to register our shock, disappointment and disgust over violence against women and children,” reads part of the petition.

“We therefore demand that the police as law enforcement agents bring to book and exert stiff punishment as a deterrent to future perpetrators,” further reads the petition.

The women also took the opportunity to register their displeasure over unfair coverage and hate speech propagated by some media outlets further dividing them.

“The media must desist from preaching and promoting hate speech which divides us as political parties,” they said.

Speaking after receiving the petition Cde Madzongwe said she would ensure that issues brought by the women were tabled in Parliament.

“I am happy to know that we are in this together.

“As Parliamentarians we are going to move a motion for adoption of this issue that you have brought to Parliament,” she said.

Cde Madzongwe urged the women to vote for the draft constitution saying it had provisions aimed at protecting women against such practices.

The petitioning was mooted in an earlier women’s inter-party indaba held in Harare yesterday morning.

Organised by JOMIC, the meeting was aimed at strategising and agreeing on ways that could be used to promote peace and tolerance among women.

In an earlier interview, Cde Muchinguri said women were also interrogating the Code of Conduct for political parties to ensure its conformity with issues of gender equality.

Cde Muchinguri said the committee, which is expected to deal with any issues of violence ahead of the elections should be represented on a 50/50 basis.