Dear First Lady,

I am writing this letter to Mrs Mnangagwa on behalf of our girls.

I understand you have children that you love so dearly, l am kindly asking you to use the position that you are holding as a First Lady / AMAI . Your title comes with responsibilities. Ignoring bad things happening around you isn’t helping your legacy.

There are girls who looked at the situation around the country and they decided to do something about it, Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and  Cecilia Chimbiri. They organised a demonstration just to highlight the problems in the society.

They highlighted hunger, being experienced in so many homes during this pandemic. Most families can not afford a decent meal. Children are now under nourished. Harare City has no safe water supply. The girls just stood up to say what  everyone is saying. They became the voice of the voiceless. However, they were abducted on their way home. They went through torture, just for saying the truth. They were beaten, verbally and sexually abused. What the abductors did to the girls undermines womanhood. They were  dehumanized, lied to, made as a sacrifice to silence us, but no, we will not be silenced.  Their abductors dumped them to find their way home, in such pain and trauma.

In hospital, they were guarded as if they were terrorists. They were handcuffed to their beds. Such humiliation is uncalled for.  Under the watch of your husband First Lady, this is going to hound you at some point in life. Close your eyes  and forget the luxuries surrounding you, in your inner conscience, be in their shoes and their families. It is just painful to imagine, later alone to live it. Their only crime is  telling the Government that people in lockdown are hungry and sick. In your view, is that a crime?

Are we supposed to suffer in silence? Could you please stand up for what is right? What kind of legacy are you leaving behind? You are in a privileged position to have a positive influence in the country.

First lady remove a  heart of stone and put on a heart of  flesh. Stand up for the girls. Let’s hear your voice of empathy as a mother. I am kindly asking you to intervene in the persecution of the girls. Remember there will be a life after being a First Lady.

Have an ear to hear the children crying  of hunger in every corner of the street and village. Hospitals are now death traps, with no water , medications and are being run by hungry , angry  underpaid and unequipped doctors and nurses. People are suffering. Advice the President to do the right thing. Have a heart. As a woman speak for the underprivileged and be humble. Your voice and actions can make positive difference.

Just like Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova , I am expressing my anger at the reality of our nation.We want to be heard not to be abducted and persecuted.  Let Zimbabwe be free from this shame.

L D Mungwari