. . . The case of Masvingo Urban Ward 4 CCC female candidate Muchuchuti
Faith Duri
Imagine waking up in the morning to abusive messages and life threatening phone calls from fellow members of your political party simply because you have shown interest to contest the once male dominated positions. Getting all sort of threats, abuse and name calling even from the most powerful offices of your political party because they want to impose a candidate of their choice.
This is the untold suffering the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Masvingo Ward 4 female candidate Thokozile Muchuchuti is experiencing since January 26, 2022 when she successfully filed her papers with the nomination court ahead of the by-elections slated for March 26.
Muchuchuti is at the mercy of male chauvinists in the CCC party who want to withdraw her candidature so that a man, Aleck Tabe can contest the by-elections.
But what has Muchuchuti done to deserve this kind of treatment from the male dominated CCC national leadership – secretary general Charlton Hwende, secretary for elections Jacob Mafume, national organiser Godfrey Kurauone and Happymore ‘Bvondo’ Chidziva just to mention a few?
For Kurauone, one would understand that this is out of bitterness, because this is the same Muchuchuti who humbled her during 2018 party primaries until the national leadership found a technicality to knock her off – the ward was then declared a preserve for the youths thus Kurauone eventually got ticket to contest and won during the 2018 general elections. It seems Kurauone felt so embarrassed during 2018 to an extent that he will do anything to block her using his powerful position of national youth organiser. And of course to those with a sexist ideology, losing to a woman is indeed embarrassing.
How about other CCC national members who are said to be pushing Muchuchuti out – Hwende, Mafume, Bvondo and many others? What did Muchuchuti do that they want to block her each time she gets support from the grassroots to contest for the once male dominated positions in politics? Isn’t this mere chauvinism?
What picture are political parties that are formed on the principles of democracy, transparency and gender equality such as CCC wants to show the world?
Muchuchuti’s case is just a tip of an iceberg; we have many women who are suffering in silence because of male chauvinists. Others are even raped, blackmailed, physically and emotionally abused but they remain silent for fear of further victimisation by powerful men from their respective or even rival political parties.
Even those women occupying influential positions are sometimes helpless and also fear their male counterparts. CCC vice president Lynette Karenyi-Kore was in sixes and sevens when contacted for comment by TellZim News on the abuse of women in her party with reference to Muchuchuti’s case.
“Can you send your questions on WhatsApp because I am about to go into a meeting. Let’s talk on WhatsApp,” Kore said.
“I am seeing a patient at a hospital now, I cannot talk,” said the same Kore exactly a minute later as she avoided responding to the questions that had been sent on WhatsApp as per her request.
Kore later referred questions to Muchirairwa Mugidho who is the national chairperson for women.
This is not just a mere confusion Kore exhibited as she tried to dodge responding to the questions but it exposed the fear she has of what might befall her if she speaks her mind about the issues raised.
Mafume also could not comment on the matter when TellZim contacted him; he requested the reporter to send the questions on WhatsApp, and that was the end of the story until the paper went to bed.
Tabe was a member of the People Democratic Party (PDP). Allegations are that Mafume and other former PDP members want Tabe so that they also have their cadres in powerful positions.
Women organisations such as WALPE have condemned the abuse of women by political parties and reminded them to respect the constitutional provisions that speak to gender equality and right to participate in politics.
“We note with concern the heavy handedness of some political party officials on women candidates that want to participate in the coming by-elections. There are disturbing reports of women being harassed verbally and emotionally blackmailed within their political parties to threaten and discourage them from fully participating in leadership process. This must stop,” said WALPE in a statement.
“We call on all political parties to respect the tenets of Sections 17, 56 and 80 of the constitution of Zimbabwe and uphold provisions for gender equality. Political parties must name and shame those culprits and bring them to book,” the statement continues.
Muchuchuti however vowed not to withdraw her candidature saying she had endured enough since 2013 and the electorate, including her campaign team are urging her not to succumb to the pressure.
“They promised me the provincial chairlady post because there is no one on that post. Also they said at next elections they will appoint me number one provincial councillor.
“I refused to step down because my campaign team has asked me not to withdraw. The electorate needs me so I cannot betray their trust. We have already made flyers, so we are going ahead as planned,” said Muchuchuti.
A number of ward four residents who spoke to TellZim News vowed to continue supporting her saying they do not know why the top leadership is anti-women.
“Why are they always asking her to step down when she wins the primaries? They should give those powerful posts they are promising her to the people she defeated. We want her to be our councillor and nothing else,” said one of the residents.
Sources have also said the party went through some unorthodox selection processes which were marred with harassment and rigging against Muchuchuti, after which they claimed that she had been defeated, albeit through technicalities.
This has been described as one way of frustrating women candidates, so that they distance themselves from political participation despite them being capable of running for office and also having the electorate on their side.
Abuse of women in politics and in general should be a matter of concern for all progressive citizens. Women have a right too, and political parties should support by allowing women to fairly contest for all positions that would be up for grabs.
Fellow Zimbabweans, what have we become that we normalise things that are so grotesquely abnormal?
