Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Lynette Karenyi-Kore has denounced the abuse of women by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
misogynistic administration.

In a statement on Friday, Hon Karenyi-Kore condemned the abuse, arrest and persecution of MDC Alliance official Vongai Tome.

See Hon Karenyi-Kore’s statement below:

Mai Tome attended Makomborero’s Court proceedings and that got her arrested by the brutal Zimbabwean government.

She was sexually assaulted by one of the police officers before being taken into custody. A video of the events as they unfolded has been circulating since the incident. She is seen and heard in the video complaining to the officer whilst being restrained by other officers.

She was surely arrested in order to silence her, and for her not to further expose the inconsiderate attitude of the police force in executing its daily duties. Now that she is in custody, the case is going to be used to further imprison her in the future should she raise her voice about the sexual abuse.

This has been Zanu-PF’s tactics over the past months, particularly with Joanna, Cecilia and Netsai, who were sexually assaulted, incarcerated and silenced (tried at least).

Mrs Tome appeared before the courts in Harare where she was denied bail, as if she had committed a crime in the first place.

Human rights abuses against women have been the norm with the Zanu-PF government, with sexual harassment an abuse of choice. The people’s voices can never be silenced forever. Women’s voices will prevail.

Victory is certain.

Lynette Karenyi-Kore
Vice President
MDC Alliance
9 April 2021