The Zanu (PF) Womens League has joined the bandwagon in singing the tired mantra on the lifting of sanctions which has already induced a sense of mass ennui among Zimbabweans who are honest enough to remember why the restrictive measures were imposed and who they are targeted at.In a communiqu issued at the conclusion of the Womens League annual conference more than a week ago, the Zanu(PF) secretary for Womens Affairs, Oppah Muchinguri, criticised the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change( MDC) that are partners in the coalition government for being silent on the removal of sanctions and not stopping what she called pirate radios broadcasting to Zimbabwe.
Thundered Muchinguri, We demand that all parties speak openly against sanctions. We want to impress on the party leadership to demand that all participants in the Global Political Agreement call for the removal of the illegal sanctions. She claimed sanctions were hurting ordinary people, especially women, and that the onslaught by the international and private media was negatively impacting on the inclusive government.
It is obvious that Muchinguri and the Womens League have a selective memory and sense of moral indignation . The League is simply regurgitating Zanu (PF) propaganda on the issue of sanctions and so-called pirate radio stations instead of recalling the genesis of both situations truthfully.
It is hypocritical for the Womens League to blame the MDC for sanctions that were imposed by Western nations without speaking out on the restrictions their party has imposed on the entire country for the sole purpose of maintaining its grip on power at any and all costs .It is because of these abuses that Zanu (PF) has incurred the condemnation of the West .Has the Womens League conveniently forgotten all this?.
Throughout all the years when hundreds of Zimbabweans have been battered, maimed, murdered, abducted, harassed and arbitrarily arrested, the Womens League could have made a big difference by taking a stand against violence on moral and compassionate grounds. But alas, the womens wing has been conspicuous by its thunderous silence even when MDC female legislators have been victims of these senseless atrocities . Is the League now telling the nation that the inability of those on the targeted sanctions list to undertake endless junkets to Western capitals for shopping sprees pricks its conscience more than the suffering of the rest of the populace?
The so-called pirate radio stations that Muchinguri and company rail against are operated by Zimbabweans from foreign bases because of the repressive media environment in the country. The League has done nothing to call for a more tolerant and rational approach by Zanu (PF) on such issues. Instead of bringing a more humane and compassionate dimension to politics, all the thousands making up the womens wing of Zanu (PF) seem to do is serve as cheerleaders whose main contribution is to sing, ululate , chant slogans and endorse every move the leadership makes regardless of whether it is right or wrong.
Reports show that violence is back with a vengeance nationwide ahead of the process of campaigning and consulting over the writing of a new constitution. Everyone knows who is behind this violence and that the aim of its sponsors is to deny Zimbabweans the right to express their will freely.The Womens League knows that women and children will bear the brunt of this new wave of barbarism but chooses to turn a blind eye and instead bleat about sanctions whose lifting is in the prerogative of their imposers.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga