In November last year, The Zimbabwean ran a story in which the widows accused the party of neglecting them after the deaths of their husbands. In response, MDC-T spokesperson for Harare province, Obert Gutu, urged the widows to approach the party’s social welfare department for assistance.
Frustration
However, the widow to the late Christopher Mashizha, Prisca Dausi, 25, said she had made several trips to Harvest House without success. She said officers in the social welfare department were frustrating them as punishment for having reported the issue to the press.
“At times they said I was exaggerating my situation. Then a lady called Diana openly told me that it was wrong to report our case to the press and then come to the party to look for assistance,” said Dausi.
Dausi’s husband was abducted in June 2008 at Harvest House and his body has not been recovered. The bodies of two other activists with whom he was abducted were later found at Ziko Business Centre in Seke.
No money for fees
Dausi lives in the low-income suburb of Epworth with her two sons aged seven and five. She is struggling to raise money to pay for her children’s school fees.
“I tried to convince them to give me money for my children’s school fees but without any success,” said Dausi.
Another widow, Rugare Mafundikwa, 35, wife to the late Itai Manyeruke said asking for help from the MDC-T social welfare department had been a wild goose chase.
‘I tried to convince them to give me money for my children’s school fees but without any success’
“My attempts to seek an audience with Minister Gutu to register my displeasure at the way we were being handled at the social welfare department were all in vain and finally I decided to give up. It seems the party is not willing to assist us,” said Mafundikwa.
Manyeruke was abducted on March 11, 2007 and died the next day of wounds he sustained during torture in police custody. Mafundikwa said she was now pinning her hopes on vending which she said had been sustaining her family since the death of her husband. Mafundikwa has two children.
“My last born is supposed to be going into form one but is at home because I do not have money to pay for his school fees and the party is not chipping in with any form of assistance,” she said.
Lack of sincerity
Another widow who declined to be named said the MDC-T was not being sincere in its pledge to assist widows of the party’s slain activists.
“I think they are saying that just to create a positive image for the party. In my case, I received help just after the death of my husband and since then nothing is coming my way and the authorities are just frustrating us,” said the widow.
When contacted for comment on the issue, MDC-T Welfare Coordinator, Brighton Matimba, referred all questions to the MDC-T Harare province.
MDC-T spokesperson for Harare Province, Obert Gutu maintained that his party had an obligation to assist widows of its party’s activists.
“It seems this matter is becoming complicated but I have reiterated that they should approach our social welfare department over this issue and if they face any challenges, they should feel free to approach me for assistance,” he said.
Post published in: News