Arrest and torture of women leaders discourages political participation: Gender Commission

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has said the arrests and torture of women leaders will likely discourage others from participating in politics.

The statement comes by the ZGC chairperson Margaret Mukahanana Sangarwe who said the action is discouraging women also in decision making which the commission is promoting.

“We are concerned that the violence allegedly directed at women leaders is likely to discourage women’s participation in politics and decision-making, which the commission has been actively promoting,”

The statement has supported the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (Walpe) which describes the arrests of women as heinous acts which discourage women into political participation.

“All these brutal acts of repression further close the space for women to effectively and fully participate in politics. As women’s rights organisations, we thus call on the government of Zimbabwe to unconditionally and immediately release Hon Mamombe and all other political prisoners,” Walpe said

This came as the ZGC has joined WALPE in demanding an immediate release of MDC Alliance legislator Joana Mamombe from prison while bemoaning increasing cases of incarceration and torture of women at the hands of State security agents.

The commission has further urged government, law enforcement agents and the media to uphold provision of constitution in dealing with alleged criminal conduct.

“We, therefore, urge the following upon government, political parties, and law enforcement agents, media, respectively to publicly declare commitment to upholding constitutional provisions in dealing with alleged criminal conduct and conduct an investigation into circumstances surrounding the case in a transparent and accountable manner to curtail speculation,” said ZGC.

Mamombe was arrested together with Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova for violating COVID-19 regulations.

The MDC Alliance MP has been struggling with her health while in remand prison and was last week forced out of hospital back to remand prison by State agents.