By Albert Mpofu
ZanuPF Vice President and former commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, Constantino Chiwenga, took away his two children, including the wife’s daughter, the one she had in her previous marriage before their union with Chiwenga.
This happened five years ago when they separated, and the estranged wife was arrested and charged with attempted murder and corruption.
His wife, Mary Chiwenga, wrote an emotional statement on her blog today, as it is her daughter’s birthday, and she was taken away by her stepfather 5 years ago.
“Today is my daughter’s birthday Tendai, she is 12y l have not seen her in almost 5yrs with my access to her and her 2brothers completly blocked. Tendai is born out of my marriage to General C Chiwenga. l am in pain this act is barbaric, l have tried many times to see my children”
This act, especially by the Vice President of the country and the Minister of Health and Child Care (2020-2023), is unlawful, as it violates children’s rights since children below the age of 18 must remain in the custody of their mothers, especially in this case where the daughter is not his.
What boggles the mind is that local, regional, and even international organizations, whether women’s organizations, human rights advocates, or children’s care organizations, have totally ignored the ordeal of Mary Chiwenga and her children.
This clearly shows how ZanuPF has managed to take away rights from women, children and general citizens without any consequences.
Mary has been in the courts since 2019, facing multiple charges, including corruption and attempted murder.
Her passport was confiscated, and she was denied the opportunity to seek medical attention outside the country. Her arm had to be amputated, and she has been in and out of the hospital since 2019.
Mary Chiwenga’s case serves as a reminder to all Zanu-PF apologists that supporting and defending human rights violations will always come back to haunt them. If they could advocate for a fair society that protects human rights and respects the rule of law, those conditions would one day protect themselves and other potential victims from abuse.
