Chamisa was seen grabbing the microphone from his wife as she was in the middle of giving a few remarks and he bragged that it was him only who was supposed to give a speech not her. That was in a way embarrassing, considering that it was in front of the MDC supporters and the media. It was an action which left people wondering how she was treated at home if she was being treated in such a manner in public.
His wife is seen smiling as she goes back to her seat but people felt for her as the chauvinism tendencies of her husband are becoming too many to mention. For a man who claims to be a man of God, Chamisa continue to show disregard for women both in word and deed.
This has not been the first incidence where the party leadership and Chamisa in particular have downtrodden women. During the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s funeral, Chamisa unleashed the Vangaurd on MDC T leader Thokozani Khupe.
Khupe was assaulted by the MDC youth militia and was forced to hide in a grass-thatched hut, which Chamisa’s supporters threatened to burn down. How are the party members and supporters expected to behave if and when their leader behaves in such a childish and bully behaviour
At one of the MDC congresses, Chamisa said he would donate his wife to Douglas Mwonzora, if he lost the Secretary-General’s post to him and he went on to lose. However Mwonzora being the gentleman he is did not claim Chamisa’s wife when he won.
The MDC’s patriarchal leadership and attitudes leave a lot to be desired following their recurrent statements and actions towards women. Chamisa received lots of criticism after he told his UK supporters that he would give his sister to President Mnangagwa saying, “If Mnangagwa wins 5% in a free election, I will give him my sister. I have a sister who just turned 18 and is looking for a husband.” Surely, how can a person in their right senses gamble their sister like this or to him she is just an object that is prone to be traded?
To Chamisa it might seem like political banter but women are not amused by such joking but only expose his lack of leadership qualities which many social media users are also putting into question. Chamisa is forgetting that women constitute the majority even as voters and his utterances are going to turn on him one of these days.
Chamisa has always been reckless in his utterances and does consider the situation and circumstances or think before he speaks. This has reflected negatively on his leadership with some pointing it out as political immaturity which is dangerous in a leader of the largest opposition party in the country.
As a leader Chamisa should have respect for everyone, women included. If he is failing to respect women he knows and who are close to him how then can he respect the rest of the women in the country. The patriarchal tendencies will never be broken if opposition male leadership continue to act in this way.
This is contrary to President Emmerson Mnangagwa who has shown and is always showing his servant leadership. He does not select or look down upon people as he has met with several groups; the youth, women and the disabled among other groups and will continue to do so. He knows that it is these very people he is representing who will help him in taking the country forward.
