First Lady Grace Mugabe addressed thousands of people Wednesday in Kadoma, where she blasted early child-marriage practices, and recent suggestions attributed to state prosecutor general Johannes Tomana that twelve year olds can consent to having sex.
The first lady was speaking at a ground –breaking ceremony for a housing project in Kadoma, where she was accompanied by the country’s two vice presidents; Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa, and local government minister Ignatious Chombo.
She handed out donations consisting of shoes, blankets, and rice to parts of the crowd, and also chanted the controversial “Pasi ne Gamatox” (Down With Gamatox) slogan.
She commended Mphoko and Mnangagwa for taking notes during meetings, and being vigilant on developmental issues, adding they were better that the previous office holder, in what most viewed as an attack on former vice president Joyce Mujuru.
However, political analyst and ZANU PF activist Morris Ngwenya says this was not a political rally and the first lady was fulfilling her duties to the nation.
Ngwenya added that although Mnangagwa explained in parliament Wednesday that Tomana was misquoted on the issue of 12 year-olds' rights to sex, it is still commendable to see the first lady fighting for girls' rights.
Gamatox is a term that is associated with some senior Zanu PF officials, who allegedly attempted to topple President Robert Mugabe in the last Zanu PF elective congress.