Coalition of women harassed by ZANU-PF at opening of parliament

By Tererai Karimakwenda

25 July 2006

The 2 nd session of the 6 th parliament was opened by Robert Mugabe on Tuesday under controversial circumstances. All opposition members of parliament from the Tsvangirai led MDC boycotted the event and about 9 women from a loose coalition calling for peace and tolerance were scared away from the event by a group of ZANU-PF youth.

MDC secretary general Tendai Biti told us there was a 100% boycott by their MPs because Mugabe is not the legitimate president of Zimbabwe.He said the MDC has boycotted Mugabe’s address at parliament openingsessions in the past for the same reason. Biti added that the exception was in July 2004 when they attended as a gesture to show respect for negotiations that were taking place at the time.

Outside parliament at Africa Unity Square, the MDC women’s assembly chairperson Lucia Matibenga had brought together a coalition of about 300 women from the party and civic society who have joined her in a new campaign to promote peace and tolerance in public. They were there to witness the opening of parliament without any political party regalia. But there was to be no peace.

MDC executive member Sekai Holland told us the ZANU-PF information and Publicity official William Nhara approached them as they sat peace fully on a bench and asked them to join the others behind the police divisions. But according to Mrs Holland “the others” were a group of ZANU-PF youth who were singing provocative songs against the MDC. Mrs Holland said she was recognised by the youth along with Matibenga and 7 other women. She said the youth shouted: “ Ibva pano hapasi pa Blair” meaning “get away from here this is not Blair’s country.” The youth were also singing lyrics that were intimidating such as “Imba ya chinja iripi, tirakidze ti bhombe” meaning “where is the house of the MDC, show us and we will bomb it.”

Mai Holland said they became very frightened as a group of about 30 ZANU-PF youth came very close to them shouting and singing intimidating songs. They sought the help of the police and were referred from one to the other until a fourth police official took the 9 recognised women to Harare Central station where they reported the incident. She said as they left Africa Unity Square the youth ordered the crowd to put up their fists signalling support for ZANU-PF. But one brave woman who remained there refused to do so saying she wanted to put up the open palm that signals support for the MDC. It is not clear what happened to her after the group of 9 left for the police station.

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