May the real MEN in ZANU PF please stand up …..

By Mike Bambo

Growing up in the dusty rural areas of Gutu, educated at Gokomere High School in Zimbabwe, attending the University of Zimbabwe, I was educated and made to believe that REAL MAN don’t cry.

I also learned that REAL MAN do not abuse women, like beating them or doing anything bad to them. I was educated and learned to respect women, and also to stand up against women when they are abused.

Women during the war

Most men abused the women during the war of liberation. The issue was that the women who were abused were powerless to resist. Even if they resisted, they would in some cases, which often was the case, be raped. If they reported the case to their commanders, the case was brushed aside, and the perpetrator was told not to do it again. Women who fought alongside their male counterparts were the ones who were abused a lot. After independence the issue was to let bygones be bygones.

There is another group of women that was abused, and this is the civilian group of women. There is no need to remind you the reader, that people were force marched to attend the pungwes at night. Failure to attend, meant death by beating by the comrades. It is even reported that in some sections of the media that the Smith regime killed less civilians as compared to the ones that were killed by the comrades. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Women (civilian) were raped by the comrades. This included even married women.

I must hasten to say that there were some girls who slept with these comrades willingly, and some went on to give birth to illegitimate children. These cases of people who were raped were never, and will never be visited because of the negativity of being labelled a victim of rape

Women during Gukurahundi

The period that Mugabe has remarked as ‘a moment of madness’ witnessed abuse of women to unimaginable heights and proportions. It is difficult to ascertain the level of women abuse. During this abuse, refer to the CCJP report on Gukurahundi available online, women were abused.

Most women were raped by the North Korean trained army, and after being raped some will have bayonets shoved into their private parts. Some were beaten, while some were forced to ululate while their husbands and sons were murdered in cold blood.

Some pregnant women had their bulging stomachs ripped open. Some women were denied food. Some of the methods used to abuse women are so graphic that writing them will further open healing wounds.

Women during election campaigns

During the 2002 and 2008 elections, abuse of women was more prevalent as compared to other election periods. Bases were set up in most rural areas, and the ‘commanders of the bases’ were young men who never participated in the war, but labelled themselves war veterans. Maybe the war they fought was of beating up people at every election campaign. So they label themselves war veterans.

At these bases, most unmarried women, girls to be precise, were forced to attend and forced to stay. The ‘commander’ had the last say on what happens; who they will beat up, and which house to burn. They were law unto themselves. It seemed as if they were in another world.

The ‘commander of the base chose his girl of his own liking and taste. There was no room to refuse, as you would be labelled an MDC member. The unfortunate scenario is that condoms were not used while these rapes were committed. What happened was that, they ended up excahing these girls, sleeping with them, abusing them in the name of ZANU PF and winning elections.

I know one ‘commander’ who succumbed to HIV/AIDS and was in a sorry state, when the very party he raped in its name never came to his rescue. When he died, people ululated, and were very happy. But the victims still have that unhealed scars and would wish their perpetrators death.

Current abuse of women … the political front

There is no abuse that surpass abusing someone academically. We all know Grace Mugabe is academically weak, never mind her doctorate. She lacks that academic process that her handlers possess. This is women abuse at great proportions. It is clear that Grace is being abused by Mnangagwa and Jonathan Moyo. Jonathan Moyo had tried to defend the academically challenged Grace in Matebeleland, but has too failed to stop the disgrace the woman is doing.

How is Grace, as a women abused??? She is being used to fight succession issues by those who want to remove Joice Mujuru. After reading what Mnangagwa is reported to have said about Mujuru being challenged. I have realized that Margaret was right after all to say that ZANU PF is full f Mugabe’s wives. How else can you explain the MAN who is reported to be ruthless, and fearsome, except that the man does so to the weak people of Zimbabwe who do not have anything to defend themselves?

Going to the comments section on the New Zimbabwe.com that broke the news, one is made to realize how the man is regarded in the public fora. A comment from on Michael Adams, (I believe that this is just a pseudonym) went like this:

“You talk about challenging Mujuru why not challenging 90 year old Mugabe who has ruined Zimbabwe to famous ruins. You are a coward Mnangagwa and good for nothing. Everyone is corrupt in ZANU it’s normal and it’s like genetic.”

By the time I finished writing this, the comment had garnered 75 up votes or likes.

James Bond, who replied to Michael Adams had to add that Mnangagwa has “misplaced faith and unhelpful sycophancy [and] … is concerned with protecting his small patch.” He adds that “the country if burning around him and the hapless man is more concerned about the welfare of a 91 year old …”

He reminds Mnangagwa that “Mugabe has nothing to offer anyone and that he now needs home-based care because of his advanced age.” To James Bond, “the Mnangagwas want [Mugabe be] propped up so they can continue plundering national resources and riding around in swanky cars like demi gods.” He signs off with, “Shame on you, uri Ngwena isina mazino!” He too garnered close to 40 up votes by the time of writing.

Other contributors on the forum urged Mnangagwa and Jonathan to stop abusing Grace like that. I will never abuse a woman, or make advantage of her incapacity to use brains, as in the case of Grace for my selfish ends.

Mike Bambo is a student in the US and can e contacted on [email protected]