Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe has called upon Parliament to protect female legislators from sexual harassment perpetrated by Mberengwa North legislator Tafanana Zhou.
According to Mamombe, when female legislators are protected, they are then able to fully execute their Parliamentary duties and roles without fear.
Speaking in the National Assembly, the youthful legislator highlighted that Parliament Hansard from the 9th Parliament have records of complaints about sexual harassment of female legislators but nothing was done.
“Parliament of Zimbabwe has not been spared, especially on female Honourable Members from gender-based violence. As elected Members we are expected to reduce tolerance to gender-based violence both in our communities as well as in the Honourable House.
“Madam Speaker Ma’am, I would like to refer you to some of the cases that undermine and violate the rights of female MPs in the House, especially in this Ninth Parliament. Madam Speaker Ma’am, I want to refer you the Hansard of 21st November 2018 where Honourable Karenyi, who is no longer with us today raised an issue of sexual harassment by one of the male MPs.
“In the Hansard of 4th December 2019, Honourable Toffa brought to your attention another matter of sexual harassment by the same male Member of Parliament. Again, the Chair noted the matter and promised to look into this.
“Madam Speaker Ma’am, yourself being a female Honourable Member, I expect you to also act on these issues. This Member of Parliament is the one from Mberengwa North Honourable Tafanana Zhou. The abuse cannot be tolerated any further. Madam Speaker, if you look at these two matters, my name as Joana Mamombe was cited as a victim of abuse in these two matters that I have told you about,” she said.
In November 2018 Zhou and Gutu West legislator John Paradza, we accused of sexually harassing Mamombe and Kore, prompting the Speaker to launch an investigation, but up to now nothing has been done and the latter has since left Parliament.
