Is the Zimbabwean parliament fit for its purpose?

While present in a public meeting that ran under the topic, is parliament of Zimbabwe fit for its purpose, I found my self wondering and I am still wondering if the parliament is really fit enough to pursue its mandate.

Do parliamentarians have power to react to government policies? will they provide an oversight of checks and balances to the executive that is mandated to manage state affairs?

 Even if they had the guts, with the current state of Zimbabwe, it is clear that we found ourselves stuck to a situation were the parliarment we emerge with is Zanu-pf  dominated.

Speaking at the event, one man by Jack Zaba posits that if one political party dominates in parliament its absolute dominance.

"The parliament we have is a recipe for one party system, which renders our parliament unfit for its purpose," Zaba said

Given that Zanu-pf has got 2/3 majority, there are possibilities that the party can in anytime amend the constitution and change the law to pursue its partisan agendas- our history explains it all.The party has history of manipulating polices to bargain on its side.

Yet with zanu-pf holding majority share we found ourselves being led by a government that is dwelling in a comfort zone not so different with the previous parliamentary systems that have failed to represent the majority millions of Zimbabweans. 

While some people believe it is a parliament handed by previous elections not reflective of the people's will, some believe the Zimbabwean parliament has lost its purpose.

"to expect much from this parliament is like squeezing blood from a stone, they have failed beyond reasonable doubt," 

Silent victims of gender based violence

Mateline Tsama

Victims are accused of having cased their own misfortune, the very core of their humanity violated and Zimbabwe’s highly conservative family system means majority of cases are literally swept under the carpet.

The reason, if one reports it, the result will be a breakdown of the family unit so vital to the very fabric of our society.

Despite the outrage at violence against women that has been recorded in Zimbabwe over the years, thousands of women continue to be silent victims of one kind or another of abuse but the biggest of them is rape, from marital to the abuse of children as young as two weeks in the vain hope of curing the dread HIV/AIDS scourge.

After years of decline suddenly official figures show a spike in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS infections a worrying sign to authorities.

Women bear the brunt of abuse while vulnerable girls are left with physical and emotional wounds, invisible to the eye; they suffer in silence. For a long time now, Natasha Moyo, 31 and a mother of three has been subjected to unspeakable trauma in her own matrimonial home.

Her life and that of her children is under threat from her violent husband who arrives home late from a beer jaunt.

On a daily basis Moyo prepares herself to walks three kilometres to the safety of her brother’s house if she fails to prepare the day’s evening meal in the way her husband desires. Failure means a heavy bashing.

 This is despite the fact that the husband does not buy food in the house.

“He always beats me up when he comes home to an uncooked meal. What worries me is that if he finds boiled vegetables, he hits me and demands meat that he rarely buys,” Moyo says with a suggestion that she is to blame.

The couple’s landlord who has witnessed Moyo’s fate says her efforts to help Moyo have been futile owing to her relatives’ inconsistence that they cannot report their son-in-law to the police.

Moyo cites that her husband is the breadwinner and that she currently does not have money to enable her provide for the welfare of her children after living the father to the children.

With the 16 days of Activism against gender- based violence now underway, Moyo’s case is not an isolated as many women have chosen to protect their husbands from going behind prison bars despite enduring various forms of domestic violence.

The campaign seeks to mobilise individuals and groups across the globe to call for an end to all forms of violence against women and to emphasize that violence against women is violation of human rights. In marking the 16 days of Activism Against gender-based violence, critics have claimed the idea of blaming the victim for their misfortune is so prevalent something needs to be done.

HarareWest legislator and MDC-T shadow minister of Justice Jessie Majome said government needs to act and stop working on blueprints.

“Government and stakeholders need to move from boardrooms and start implementing the National Strategy against Gender Based Violence launched at last year's 16 days. Its four (4) key result areas are service provision to survivors, protection, research and monitoring and evaluation, accompanied by vigorous advocacy and sensitisation on it that also aims at ending impunity for perpetrators,” Majome said.

Tinopona Mabvunde, 28 a resident of Harare says it has become common for crimes against humanity to be blamed on the victims pointing that women are often times presented as the cause of their own doing.

“In many rape cases, rape survivors are blamed ruthless for the violence perpetrated against them, its time people stop justifying violence by blaming women, we demand justice,” Mabvunde said

Nyari Mashayamombe a gild child activist has advocated that no excuses can be used to justify violence against women and children.

“Nobody deserves to be abused and there is no justification for abuse, it is a crime that should meet the heavy hand of law and justice.”

According to UN women Africa, violence against women has reached a crisis point that demands action from everyone.

With world leaders showing determination and mount response that is proportionate to the violence threatening the lives of women and girls.

“Leaders have a responsibility to take action to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

“With determined leadership for prevention, protection, prosecution and provision of services for survivors, we can end this global pandemic. It is up to all of us. Together we can end violence against women and girls.” - UN women Africa said in a statement.

While people quarrel in the media and in other forums the silent victims of violence continue to wallow in their misery. The 16 day of activism against gender based violence will come and go, there were there last year and after another you another round of noise will come.

Unless authorities begin to act of their promises and meting deterrent sentences to perpetrators then we are unlikely to see any shift in behaviour. Meanwhile Moyo and others like her will continue to suffer in muted criers for help.

Is Zimbabwe ground fertile for women participation in politics?

Following the appointment of 3 women out of 26 ministers in the cabinet, diverse views on the nature of the Zimbabwe environment in sidelining women in politics has been aired.

Recently, President Robert Mugabe reportedly uttered his lack of faith in women’s capacity to lead as he remarked they did proportional representation, but there were just not enough women.

However, some have voiced that Zimbabwe is not a fragile ground for women to fully participate in politics. There is still a lot of gender discrimination in the public sphere where women are marginalised and under represented in key sectors like politics.

 “Politics in Zimbabwe is still tied to the ancient perception of domesticating women. Women are always the second opinion-despite the increasing numbers of women organisations and the high literate rates in women,” said Nokulunga Masuku, a resident of Harare.

Masuku added that women of nowadays are now enlightened and know what they want hence we have groups like WOZA, WIPSU to mention a few, therefore lack of education as a justification to women marginalisation in politics and government posts is a lame excuse.

  “It is time we stop portraying women as vulnerable vessels. Prior to the election they fought for their rights as evidenced by the constitution, which added a voice to the representation of women in parliament.

“If we can just put in the words of other politicians the Election was robbed, thus women were not the only ones that were denied representation but various politicians both male and female suffered the blow,” said Talent Gumpo, a journalist and resident in Bulawayo.

On the other hand, others have disputed that women are not looked out in the political sector per se as there are various challenges that affect them and best know by them.

“I think women should position themselves strategically. People are free to join their political parties of their choices. It is just that women themselves are afraid of participating in politics for reasons best known to themselves.

“However, I believe women are better leaders and decision makers but probably they are not ready to take up such responsibilities,” said a member of Zanu-Pf who refused to be identified.

Speaking to a member of MDC- Ncube, Siphiwe Dewa said women are not ignorant of political procedures but are failing to fully participate in the politics as a result of the prevailing political environment in this country, which is not clear and transparent.

“Given the correct environment and resources the women can participate in politics. Also, given the huge numbers of women who were contesting against men for different political positions women are not different neither are they ignorant,” Dewa added

National chairperson of Youth Forum, Sally Dura has said it is unfortunate that the politics in Zimbabwe is still male dominated. However pointing that despite the patriarchal environment through hard work they have managed to get the best deal out of the constitution.

“Women fought a war during the election process and they should ululate for their accomplishments, with sixty women being selected to the National Assembly in accordance with the new constitution.

“Women should just continue working together and not wait for election period to join forces. History of Zimbabwe shows that if we work together, we can enforce change,” Dura said.

Harare’s water crisis a nightmare for women

By Mateline Tsama

As Harare’s unending water crisis continue to haunt residents, women have raised concern that the crisis is affecting them more than any other person due to the patriarchal nature of our society as it affects their area of responsibility in the household.

Rudo Zimunya (not her real name) from Chitungwiza wakes up as early as 4am well in time to get to the borehole before sunrise. She walks more than 2 kilometres to the borehole where 20 other women have queued up. It takes 30 minutes to an hour to finally get water. Child on her back, 20 litres container on her head plus a small 5 litres she hurries home in time to prepare breakfast for her husband and children.

 “Unfortunately, the 25 litres is not enough because my husband uses at least half of it not mentioning my three school going children, they need to eat, and bath before going to school,” Zimunya said.

As soon as they leave, she clutches her child on her back and proceeds to the borehole again to fetch water for other household chores.

 “For the past four months, our area has never received tape water and this is really burdening me as I have to single handedly provide water for the family,” Zimunya said.

She added that rarely does she find time to rest as she has to juggle between domestic chores and running her small market at Zengeza 3 shops.

“Because I have a 9 months old child, there is plenty of laundry to do every time and with this water crisis it’s really nightmarish,” went on Zimunya.

She leaves for the market where she sells a few wares and in no time, she is on her way back home and proceeds to the borehole before sunset. This has become routine and she hardly enjoys a decent night as she will be thinking of how she will overcome the burden of running a household without water.

Zimunya’s story is not an isolated case as there are many women in Zimbabwe facing similar challenges.

The water crisis has worsened, becoming a routine struggle for women due to patriarchal burden compelling them to perform routine kitchen chores that include fetching water, washing laundry and dishes, as well as providing water for all the household needs.  

The burden is even felt more by employed women who after a horrendous day at the office or market get to a dry house, where laundry and dishes waits for their attention.

Glenda Chademane (37), a vendor from Chitungwiza, said she opens her vegetable market late as she has to meet the water needs of her house first before attending to her business.

“My business used to flourish but since the water crisis started I rarely record good sales as most of my time is spend at home hustling for water, which has since become an overriding priority in my life to other income generating activities,” Chademane said.

The current water crisis is affecting the day to day lives of most women including their sleeping habits as they have to wake up as early as 4am rushing to queue up for the now precious liquid.

“Water is my biggest worry every day and my husband does not seem to understand the pain I go through to have water in the house. He always beat me up when he comes home to an uncooked meal,” said another Chitungwiza woman who spoke in conditions of anonymous.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association’s Busi Bhebhe explained that women are the ones mostly affected by water shortages, which she says is fortifying gender disparities thus drawing back progress and development made towards gender equality.

“Women are primary care givers, they are the ones who ensure each child’s needs and routines are met, taking a key role in feeding, sleeping, bathing and changing nappies. As such, it’s an added burden and extra labour for a woman because she can’t cook without water.

“It has also become a national crisis that holds the impossibility of women to fully participate in other national development issues, given that they make 52% of the population of Zimbabwe. There is a need for government to prioritise, get to the core of this water problem and even work on  long term plan that will sustain the nation”, Bhebhe added.

The challenges have also extended to affect school children who are forced by the situation to walk even for more than four kilometres with at least 20 litres of water on their heads before heading for school as they seek to assist their parents.

This situation negatively affects their studies as alluded to by a 10 year young girl from Seke 11 primary school.

“I wake up early in the morning to go and fetch water and this affects my concentration in class. Sometimes I feel sleepy and in some cases get to school late,” said the girl.

Normal demand for water in Harare is 900 mega litres a day but due to losses only 350 mega litres is getting to people.

According to Director of water, Eng Christopher Zvobgo, daily water requirements for Harare was expected to rise to 1200 mega litres between September and November