Zimbabwe’s legislator for the Welshman Ncube MDC, Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga caused a scene in parliament yesterday when she waved a pair of “dirty” used underwear to demonstrate how much poverty has hit local women.
 
Mushonga said Zimbabwe’s is still importing used underwear for sale and allowing them through the borders and airports despite a nationawide social protest against this practice made five years  ago.
 
Mushonga bravely stood up during a televised debate session to parade the under garments in front of embarrassed men and women of the August House. Her protest was filmed on live television via the ZANU PF controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation air-screens.
 
People watching from their homes gazed in amazement as Mushonga was seen waving the human inner cloth-wear.  She began, “I would like to ask the Minister of Finance (Patrick Chinamasa) what is the government policy on the importation of second-hand underwear which have health recantations, but are cheap?
“If you look at the two panties that I have here, this one is a brand new and costs $2 and above, but this one which is a secondhand, costs $1 for two.”
But, Chinamasa said Misiharabwi-Mushonga could have made her point without parading the underwear.
“Before I answer this important question, I believe the honourable member should have not gone that far to make her point,” he said. “Anyway, I will see if I cannot make an intervention during my Mid-term Policy Statement next week.”
Misihairabwi-Mushonga first raised the issue in Parliament last week.
During the heated debate, the MP was ejected from the National Assembly after threatening to beat Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu PF) for allegedly using “sexist” words against her.
The fracas began after Chinamasa had answered Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s question. As soon as Chinamasa took to his seat, the outspoken Matabeleland South MP charged towards Wadyajena accusing him of hurling sexually abusive words at her.
She threatened to beat up the Zanu PF MP, but was restrained by her collegues before Parliament security officers intervened and forced her out of the House. However, this invited the ire of opposition MPs who rose in protest accusing Acting Speaker of Parliament, Melody Dziva (Zanu PF) of bias.
Dziva insisted that Misihairabwi-Mushonga had been kicked out because she had crossed the floor and not because of the altercation she had with Wadyajena. She went on to block MDC-T deputy chief whip Dorcas Sibanda from raising a point of order regarding the MP’s treatment. Dziva also stopped further debate on the matter. (Newsday/Additional Reporting)