MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA-The Midweek Watch has gathered that there are some women activists who intend to stage a demonstration at the Pan African Parliament headquarters in Midarand against its head, Chief Fortune Charumbira.
A local radio station official who spoke to this publication confirmed the development and said they were planning to cover the demonstration by women activist in support of a complainant who was allegedly indecently assaulted in Zimbabwe by Chief Charumbira recently.
“Tomorrow we are going to cover a demonstration by women activists against gender based violence at the PAP building and we have asked the PAP secretariat to be part of our story as we want their input on the planned protests,” said the official yesterday in the afternoon.
The official said they heard about the planned protests from one of their editors during a diary meeting yesterday morning.
Last week three women activists representing Kwanele, Sihle Sibisi, Ayanda Kunene and Nelly Tshabalala and a man who identified himself as Phenyu, a media consultant visited Zimbabwe for a discussion with the family of the complainant.
The Midweek Watch could not ascertain whether the three women representing Kwanele pressure group are part of the planned demonstrations at PAP building today as Sihle’s mobile phone was being answered by someone who continuously said she was in a meeting.
This women activist from South Africa who visited Zimbabwe last week said they were not happy with the local pressure groups as they have not issued a statement on the case which is now being investigated by the Police.
This publication has also gathered that prominent South African women and one Bridget Motsepe have allegedly taken it upon themselves to fund and assist the activists to fight from the victim’s corner until justice to be done.
Chief Charumbira was reported to the Police in Zimbabwe on April 15 by his niece for alleged indecent assault when she was attending a school function in Mazowe sometime in March.
This publication has also gathered that Phenyu who is believed to be from Botswana once contested for the PAP presidency and lost to Chief Charumbira as the bloc’s candidate.
Effort to get a comment from the PAP President were fruitless as he was said to be attending a series of meetings in preparation for Africa Day commemorations.
