First Lady Grace Mugabe, accompanied by her teenaged daughter Bona, abandoned her usual schedule of pontificating on behalf of her beleaguered husband at state functions to take to the pulpit.
Serious problems with transport, accommodation, food, power and water put a damper on the conference, which was dominated by prayers and sermons proclaiming an end to the country’s debilitating political and socio-economic crisis.
A visit by The Zimbabwean to the HICC revealed that the formerly world-renowned venue didn’t have adequate lighting at night and the car park was totally devoid of light, causing chaos for hundreds of vehicles and thousands of delegates.
“We are enjoying the sermons and teachings but problems with transport, food, water and power are seriously affecting us,” said a woman attending the conference.
Delegates from around Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries found accommodation rates astronomical, forcing some of them to sleep on pavements in the city centre. Rates at small hotels and lodges have recently increased to between Z$12 million and $20 million per night.
To the surprise and chagrin of most of the delegates, organizers of the event introduced President Robert Mugabe’s wife to preach and she took to the pulpit with a bible. “A woman must work hard and not wait for your husband to provide everything. I dislike women that keep long nails, how do you work?” she said, to suppressed grumblings and murmurings from the audience.
She finished her “sermon” without a single word about the grinding poverty that women are grappling with at the hands of her husband’s regime. – Itai Dzamara
Post published in: News