Opposition MDC Alliance legislators on Tuesday confronted the speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda over the continued detention of Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe.
Mamombe was arrested and incarcerated together with Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova for faking their abduction in May this year.
The 27-year-old was recently placed under the care of the superintendent at Harare Remand Prison for 2 weeks to assess her mental problem to stand trial as the state indicated that it doubted that she indeed had mental issues.
MDC Alliance vice president Lynette Karenyi told advocate Mudenda that Mamombe’s treatment was tantamount to inhumane treatment. She said:
I have realised that the issue of victimisation and the subjection to torture is also one of the key problems whereby women are not going to be encouraged to stand up to be in local government, to be in Parliament.
Honourable Speaker, we are encouraging young women to be Members of Parliament and we have got one of our members of Parliament, Honourable Joanna Mamombe.
May I also draw your attention on the issue of the right to health, Honourable Speaker, we are encouraging young women to be Members of Parliament and we have got one of our Members of Parliament, Honourable Joanna Mamombe…
The speaker, however, dismissed the matter ordering Karenyi-Kore to raise her issue through a motion.
Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala came to Karenyi-Kore’s defence saying she was raising an issue concerning one of the members of Parliament, he was too ordered to take his seat.
The state dismisses reports that government critics are being kidnapped and tortured by suspected state security forces saying the alleged abductions are being stage-managed to soil the government’s image.
