This is not Saudi Arabia: Mphoko

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko

Siyabonga Sayi

The Vice President Hon Phelekezela Mphoko said Zimbabwe is not Saudi Arabia, at a national healing and reconciliation public lecture held at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) on May 14 2015 whilst addressing the issue of women rights and empowerment.

In response to a question by Acting Director of Centre for Gender and Cultural Studies at GZU Mrs. Farisai Zvobgo relating to women’s rights and empowerment Mphoko said Zimbabwe was different from Saudi Arabia.

“This is not Saudi Arabia, this is Zimbabwe, where everybody can do anything under the sun and be recognized as according to their profession”, said Mphoko.

The Vice President continued to stress that women in Zimbabwe have an important position as they are recognized in all sectors and even in government.

“In Zimbabwe we have laws which accommodate women, today we have Mrs. Edna Madzongwe who is the president of the senate and Mrs. Zvobgo is the director in an international institution, she can go anywhere and be recognized”, continued Mphoko.

The Vice President also went on state that rape which happens in the country is not government policy as he brushed away the accusations of exposing women to abuse and that he felt were leveled against the government.

“Rape is not government policy, if you rape a girl because you have failed to talk to her, it’s not government policy”.

“Government policy says if a person rapes, they are arrested, and that is what has been done”, emphasized Mphoko.

“Today women also rape men, and that should equally be treated as rape” he continued.

He blamed greed as responsible for rape, as he emphasized that the government has laws that put men and women at the same level.

He referred to the biblical teachings on men and women being the same before God, and women’s importance as they bring the human race to life.

“Amongst us there is a very important person, even themselves they do not recognize how important they are, everybody walking here is from a woman, and a woman herself is from a woman” said the Vice President.

He emphasized that women should be treated as colleagues and friends and also as wife to those married, he gave himself as an example when he said her wife controls the finances.