MPEZENI OUTRAGED OVER SEX FOR ADOPTION SCANDAL
…Ngoni traditional leader denounces reports of women being forced into sexual favors for adoption certificates
By Ludia Ngwadzai
PARAMOUNT Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people in Eastern Province has strongly condemned reports that Secretaries General of political parties are demanding sex from women candidates before issuing them with adoption certificates to contest the August 13 general elections.
A visibly disturbed Mpezeni described the revelations by government as sad and retrogressive to women’s dignity.
The traditional leader warned that such conduct was a hindrance to the country’s development.
“Women are our mothers, it is disrespectful to want to sleep with them just because you want them to be adopted. For our women, if they cannot report the culprits, I will do it for them. Nufunalini ivo kuno neo. [I don’t want that in my chiefdom],” he said.
Speaking in an interview with The Mast, Chief Mpezeni said women should be treasured and respected, and allowed to participate in the electoral process without being subjected to sexual favors.
“Why should one engage in sexual activities just because they want a job? No, it shouldn’t be like that,” Mpezeni said.
He advised women to gather evidence and report sextortion cases to the police.
“Have evidence, go to the police, let there be evidence as you report them; we cannot have such conduct in our country,” he said.
Mpezeni said he planned to hold meetings in his chiefdom to sensitise women vying for political office on sextortion issues.
The traditional leader’s remarks follow reports received by Gender Division Permanent Secretary Mainga Kabika on Monday that some political party officials were demanding sexual favors in exchange for adoption.
Kabika said the level of sexual exploitation targeting women in various political parties ahead of the August general elections had alarmed the Office of the President, Gender Division.
“And I can confirm to you right now that I am actually receiving a lot of messages. Some of them are already on record through their SMS, through their WhatsApp. They report that they are already being asked for sexual favors in exchange for adoption,” she said.
Kabika urged women aspiring candidates to record all men demanding sex from them as part of evidence for prosecution.
“Record all men demanding sex for adoption in a clever way so that they don’t even know that they’re being recorded. Because I know that by the time they come to you, all you will be saying is there isn’t enough evidence,” Kabika said.
She described the conduct by some male political leaders as unacceptable.
Kabika said sex should never be linked to the adoption process for any position.
“Political adoption should not go beyond sex. Violence against women in politics continues to manifest during the campaign period and throughout the electoral process and adoptions,” she said.
Kabika also expressed concern that many women would face various forms of abuse during the electoral process.
“Women frequently experience physical intimidation at rallies, verbal abuse, physical harassment, cyber bullying and deliberate spread of misinformation intended to disseminate them and to characterise them and silence their voices. This trend is unacceptable,” she said.
Kabika said such acts not only undermined women’s rights but also weakened the democratic system by limiting the diversity of voices in governance.
Kabika warned that when women are intimidated from participating in elections, democratic principles of equal participation are compromised.
She called for the development of strict guidelines to expedite investigations into political violence, including sexual violence, during the election cycle and beyond, to ensure victims receive justice within the shortest possible time.
“I think it would be very helpful for female candidates. We have over 2,000 female aspiring candidates who are going to participate in this year’s election. And this is our hope,” Kabika said.
