Activists have expressed outrage at Zanu PF’s glorification of convicted rapist Bobby Makaza – who coined the ‘Mnangagwa Huchi’ slogan – at its presidential rally in Mutawatawa over the weekend.
Makaza (60) who was convicted of rape in 2019 coined the slogan, which means ‘President Emmerson Mnangagwa is sweet like honey’ after he was released from prison through an amnesty order this year.
The former prisoner appeared at the Mutawatawa Zanu PF rally dressed in white including a T-shirt emblazoned with the president’s face and reportedly walked away with US$700 in cash.
The ‘Mnangagwa Huchi’ slogan has now become synonymous with every Zanu PF rally and some supporters have been sporting T-shirts printed with the phrase.
However, activists are dissatisfied with Zanu PF for honouring a convicted rapist.
This uproar also comes after Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) filed an application at the Harare High Court last month seeking an order for his detention, claiming that Makaza’s release was unlawful.
Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Paida Saurombe of ZLHR, representing the family of the now 15-year-old juvenile, requested the High Court to declare the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS)’s decision to release Makaza unconstitutional.
Makaza was found guilty of rape under Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act in 2019 and sentenced to 16 years in jail for raping his then 10-year-old niece in 2018.
However, Makaza was released from prison after only four years in an amnesty issued by President Mnangagwa’s pardon, along with over 4 200 other convicts.
Political analysts Patrick Ndlovu questioned what message Zanu PF was conveying to people by “hailing as a hero” a man who raped a child.
“We saw pictures of Makaza on social media which means people were jostling to take selfies with him at the rally. Surely Mnangagwa is Huchi for criminals in this country,” he said.
Emmanuel Sibanda also inquired what criteria were used to pardon inmates, particularly those who raped children, noting that the ‘Mnangagwa Huchi’ phrase was popular in Zanu PF “despite the fact that situation in Zimbabwe is not sweet.”
On the same note, others found nothing wrong with Makaza becoming famous.
Although Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Tinoda Machakaire denied building a house for Makaza as earlier reported by other publications, Machakaire stressed that no one has the authority to judge or condemn others.
“It is important to recognise the dignity and importance of each person whether victims or the convicted,” Machakaire said
A twitter user, Derrick Goto said once someone has been through prison and therefore rehabilitated, they should not be treated as outcasts.
“That is why the term ‘correctional’ is included in the full Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services name. Furthermore, if you were to ever find yourself in prison, would you prefer to be treated as an outcast, or would you prefer to be embraced as Zanu PF has done with the old man?” he asked.
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