MDC Alliance warns regime against persecuting Mubaiwa and others

The main opposition MDC Alliance has demanded an end to the ‘persecution’ of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife Marry Mubaiwa who has been denied access to healthcare while she is frequently being monitored by law enforcement agents.

In a statement by Barbara Tanyanyiwa the spokesperson for the MDC Alliance Assembly of Women, the party said it had noted with concern the increased incidents of gender-based violence “which has become a hallmark of Mr Mnangagwa’s regime”.

MDC Alliance cited the case of Mubaiwa who was arrested in 2019 and charged with attempted murder of her husband, money laundering and assault but has not yet received trial while being denied access to travel for the medical attention that she visibly wants.

The opposition further accuses the ruling elites of weaponising the law against the former model and MDC Alliance Youth leaders Joanah Mamombe, Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova who were allegedly abducted by state security agents in 2020.

“The most recent example of the regime’s toxic culture of abusing women and weaponizing the law against them is the harassment and torture of Marry Chiwenga, the estranged wife of Mr Constantino Chiwenga,” the MDC Alliance said while commemorating 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

“The case of Marry Chiwenga and her persecution at the hands of law enforcement agents is a sad indictment on the law enforcement system and the state’s failure to respect women’s right to dignity and fair and equal treatment before the law.

“There can be no doubt that the settling of political scores on behalf of powerful political elites is behind the continued abuse of this woman and her continued unlawful alienation from her children.”

The opposition also condemned the “capricious and arbitrary decision by the Magistrates’ Court to detain her for a “medical examination” echoes the ill-treatment that was meted out against MDC Alliance MP, Hon Joana Mamombe, when she was unjustly incarcerated by the same court.

“More recently, Vongai Tome was sexually harassed by a police officer when she was attending the court hearing for Makomborero Haruzivishe.”

Mamombe has been charged with allegations of faking her abduction along with party colleagues Chimbiri and Marova. This comes after the trio went missing for four days in 2020 and they were found in rural Bindura, some 86 kilometers from capital city Harare.

“The perpetrators of the abduction, sexual assault and torture of the MDC Trio of Joanah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are still at large,” MDC Alliance said.

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Chuma also released a statement on Thursday condemning abuse of women by the regime.

“It has been exactly 19 months, 577 days or 83 weeks of hell for our female youth leaders at the hands of the unrepentant Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.

“As we kick start the 16 days against gender based violence commemorations today, let’s spare a thought for Cecillia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe and Netsai Marova who had to endure 577 days of defeminization and humiliation at the hands of the state.

“Our female youth leaders have been toyed around from one court to another, at times exchanging court for Chikurubi for the simple reason that they chose to speak up against abuse suffered at the hands of state,” read the statement. Nehanda Radio