Political Reporter
Women have come out guns blazing accusing the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) security teams of abusing and humiliating them during that party’s rallies held in Bulawayo and Gweru, last week.
Women who spoke to this publication complained that the body searches done by the CCC male-dominated security teams greatly humiliated them as the overzealous security personnel ended up caressing women’s private parts.
A disgruntled woman, Ethel Chiromo, accused that party of turning a blind eye to the abuse of women during its rallies.
“I was humiliated in Gweru when the CCC security teams touched my private parts and breasts. When I asked them why they were doing that, they told me that it was an instruction from their leaders that they should conduct a thorough body search for all people. To make matters worse, the searches were being done by men and I was not comfortable with that,” said Chiromo.
Chiromo added that she later complained to the CCC head of security, whose name she failed to grasp, and was told that the deep searches were standard procedure to protect their leader Nelson Chamisa from harm.
“How can they say the fingering of women and caressing of their breast is a standard procedure? The CCC should learn to respect women and thrive to preserve the dignity of women. I am no longer comfortable attending their rallies as the abuse is just too much,” added Chiromo.
Another member who preferred anonymity and was present at the CCC rally in Bulawayo accused the security team of using vulgar words and also conducting dehumanising body searches.
“The CCC security teams lack professionalism. In Bulawayo, they were using vulgar language on members who complained about their inappropriate body searches. The security team in Bulawayo was drunk and I was afraid that they might grossly abuse me in broad day light. It’s not good for your private parts to be groped by a man who is not even your husband,” complained the member.
Efforts to get a comment from CCC interim spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, were futile as she was not picking her mobile phones.
