Vice-President Kembo Mohadi has not been censured for
allegedly threatening to his kill his ex-wife and damaging her property because
no police report has been made a week after the shocking incident, it has been
revealed.
Mohadi allegedly stormed Senator Tambudzani Mohadi’s
Beitbridge home where he hacked three doors using an axe before towing away his
former wife’s three cars.
At least 25 police officers witnessed the incident, but
refused to take a report from the under- siege senator.
The Beitbridge senator argued she would only sign, as both
witness and victim, a statement by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers
who were present during the violent attack on her person and property on
Saturday last week.
She said what police were requesting her to do was like a
policeman who sees someone being killed and waits for a report from the victim.
“They were the witnesses, they have an eyewitness account.
They must take action based on that. A crime was committed in their presence,”
she said in an interview.
Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi referred all queries about
the Mohadi case to the Information ministry.
Women Affairs minister Sithembiso Nyoni said she would not
comment on the matter, which she said was private.
“I was out of the country when this happened, but it is a
private family thing. It also involves the VP,” she said.
“I have no comment.”
Meanwhile, on Friday the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
(WCoZ) demanded that Mohadi be held accountable.
“We are outraged by the reports of violence perpetrated by
the VP against Tambudzani Mohadi,” the coalition said.
“It has also been reported that such shocking acts were
committed in the presence of members of the ZRP.
“We believe that these are very serious allegations, which
require investigations and due process of the law.”
WCoZ said the VP showed lack of respect for both the
supreme law of the land and women.
“The battle against violence perpetrated on women and girls
can never be won when the perpetrators are men in whom the people have vested
the authority and trust to lead the nation,” the statement added.
“The VP of a nation should always be above reproach when it
comes to violence and women’s rights issues.
“The VP, being a servant of the people, therefore must be
reminded that the very foundation of our democracy and freedom is that this
case should be treated as exemplary to all those who abuse their power to
inflict pain and suffering upon women.”
The women also urged the police to act speedily and
investigate the case.
“In addition, we call upon the judiciary to treat all cases
of violence against women and girls as high priority and ensure that justice is
served at all times,” read the statement.
“The failure by the ZRP to promptly address the issue
raises concern over the failure by critical institutions to adequately provide
redress to survivors of violence and thus there should never demonstrate laxity
in responding to such cases.”
Meanwhile, former Harare West legislator Jessie Majome said
it was wrong for people to always expect only women’s groups and activists to
protest when women are abused.
“Why should the women only make noise when it is clear no
one is listening or making an effort to act?” she said.
Majome described Mohadi’s case as a litmus test for the
police and the judiciary.
“We were let down by the police, where is accountability in
all this? Impunity at the highest level,” she said.
Former Zanu PF Goromonzi West legislator Beatrice
Nyamupinga called for Mohadi’s arrest.
“For a whole number two in the country to be so
disrespectful to women is grossly unacceptable,” she said.
“If he respects himself, he must resign. How do we end
gender-based violence when those who are supposed to champion the end to
gender-based violence are actually on the forefront of being perpetrators?
“This is a clear case of abuse of power, and domestic
violence and as such, he must be arrested.”
Mohadi divorced his wife early this year and the two are
embroiled in a dispute over property. Standard
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