Male gaze: Image of a Zimbabwe female parliamentarian
Bulawayo East Legislator, Thabitha Khumalo was last month involved in a fracas with Zanu-PF youths who tore her shirt leaving her with a bra.
The incident especially her image became a media spectacle as online platforms and traditional mainstream newspapers developed divergent narrations on the incident.
The unpleasant occurrence divided opinions with her critics saying it was a public stunt while some say her victimisation marks a return to political violence in Zimbabwe.
What was the motive of the police when they charged Khumalo with indecent exposure when evidence was there that she was involved in a skirmish with Zanu-PF youths?
If it was indeed indecent exposure, why is it applicable to women only because local male Zimdancehall artists are removing their shirts at shows but none was arrested and charged under it?
All these questions lead us to the concept of the male gaze. Women and Khumalo’s representation in the media was done to satisfy men’s sexual fantasies rather than to condemn the barbarism exhibited by those who assaulted her.
If the picture was indeed in bad taste, why the media used it rather than other pictures of honourable Khumalo which were already in the public domain?
This brings us to a point where one wonders if the media in Zimbabwe is still patriarchal because it is evident there are structures and practices which determined the choice of pictures the media publish especially the picture in question.
Even audience comments became non-consequential as the media had played its role and the responses from people did nothing, but substantiated what the media intended to communicate about Khumalo.
The story was first published by Zimeye.com and was instantly picked up by several online platforms and since then it continues to trend on several platforms. On Zimeye.com and Bulawayo24.com combined, the story has over 100 000 views.
Given the staggering number of viewers, one could expect those viewers to have condemned the acts of violence meted on Khumalo, but alas the viewers were lured by her “attractiveness.” Her face was heavy with anger, but viewers were concerned with her breast and tummy.
“You look sexy honourable,” reads one of the comments. Another viewer asked, “How do you keep such a hot and portable body?”
Surely, one could expect progressive comments on the upsurge of political violence because it is a vice which should be condemned, if Zimbabwe is to get a place among democratic nations were women and human rights are respected.
This trivialisation of women did not end on the social media, but progressive Zimbabweans were stunned when police charged Khumalo with indecent exposure instead of hunting down those who assaulted her.
The local media instead of providing a communicative space for deliberation on women’s rights and violence launched a whirlwind campaign denigrating Khumalo’s person and her previous lifestyle.
The Chronicle and Herald reminded us that Khumalo is leading a campaign to legalise prostitution while online platforms such as Bulawayo24.com did follow-up stories on how Khumalo maintains a small tummy and keeps herself attractive.
Where is Zimbabwe leading when the country continues to look down upon its women? Women are not objects for men’s sexual fantasies but they are rather equal beings.
Surely, time has moved on.  Zimbabwe is now a signatory to several international instruments on gender; we are longer an isolated and primitive society.
Musavengana Hove is a freelance journalist in Zimbabwe. Email [email protected] for feedback.