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Britain’s Advisor On Girl-Rights Backs Chamisa, Nero Said Nothing Wrong At All
9 May 2018
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By Farai D Hove| One of the UK government’s top advisors on female rights, has reiterated her backing of MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa saying his statement (last Saturday) on betting his 18 year old sister on a Mnangagwa 5% election win, was not at all in bad taste.

Muzvare Betty Makoni said, Chamisa used deep cultural expressions to convey an important message.

Below was Makoni’s written rendition on the subject:
Muzvare Hazviperi Betty Makoni’s explanation on case scenario used at political rally by Advocate Chamisa

I was at UK Rally on 6 May 2018. I listened to Advocate Chamisa when he made a case scenario in his speech about a “brother” and in this case him and politician CONTEMPLATING marrying off a sister. He said his opponent had a very hard time ahead of getting 5% of an election vote and then getting his sister in marriage. That was part 1 case scenario. Then case scenario part 2 was when he presented same “brother” saying his opponent had been asked to do a mammoth task and one that is IMPOSSIBLE too as you know marrying off a sister is IMPOSSIBLE.He emphasised that his opponent would never get 5% of a free and fair vote and no wonder his earlier pledge was deliberately an IMPOSSIBLE one.

1. The video clip circulated earlier to raise a storm was just part 1of the whole case scenario. It was not complete for anyone to understand context of his main message IMPOSSIBLE to marry off a sister passed on in part 2 of his case scenario.

2. A case scenario is what it is. You can dramatise it ,write it as a story, imitate those who force girls to marry etc. But ultimately the goal is to evoke critical thinking on both social and political matters. In this case, Advocate Chamisa was comparing an Impossible social issue and a political one. Using an example of a “brother” contemplating this harmful cultural practice was in no way pointing to harm but drawing a message that we all aware marrying off sisters is IMPOSSIBLE.

3. If using a case scenario of a girl pledged to marriage is what is causing the storm, then those who were not at the rally like myself should know that no girl would ever be married to anyone at all in this case scenario as brother clearly explained that marrying off a sister is IMPOSSIBLE. This case scenario in its totality was not in any way a campaign to marry off girls but to show how IMPOSSIBLE it is. It was a dramatisation to show things that are IMPOSSIBLE especially marrying off a sister.

4.There are no safeguarding concerns at all and my networks of girls across the world will not be hooked into making statements where a man chose to use forced marriage in his case scenario as a way to demonstrate what is IMPOSSIBLE. There was nothing really to evidence any intention to marry off a “sister”. This was case scenario to compare two extreme situations.

5. This case scenario and the way it was presented is not figurative at all. It is a clear statement that lots of families marry off girls but for this brother he would task opponent what he knows is impossible. Then as Advocate Chamisa rightly said, It should be IMPOSSIBLE to marry off a sister and his message was crystal clear.

I have used case scenarios to raise awareness myself. I have used drama to raise awareness.I have used personal testimony to bring realities of girls. The message we got from Advocate Chamisa is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to marry off a sister.It should not be complicated for anyone to understand his case scenario is bringing a message of people who force the IMPOSSIBLE on girls and he clearly showed what IMPOSSIBLE things people try to do.

That said the work ahead of us is to go into real life of poor and marginalised girls and tell their families that it is IMPOSSIBLE to marry them off as Advocate Chamisa clearly stated in his message. IMPOSSIBLE is ultimate message that Advocate Chamisa said.The message was clear and loud. This one you cant twist it at all.