Women's groups criticised over silence on Tsvangirai's sexual behaviour

The Regional Integration and International Co-operation Minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga on Wednesday said the way the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was treating his new wife Ms Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo was a form of domestic violence. PM Tsvangirai married Ms Tembo but terminated the relationship within 12 days.

Speaking at a regional gender-based violence conference in Harare, Minister Misihairabwi-Mushonga said women's organisations should unite to fight the scourge.

"I am disappointed by the way women movements remained silent on the issue of the Prime Minister's marriage to Locadia Tembo," she said.

"They have chosen to ignore how gender-based violence is perpetrated against our own by society as well as media."

Minister Misihairabwi-Mushonga castigated the media saying it had left Ms Tembo a victim.

"Media plays an influential role and their portrayal of Locadia Tembo is worrying and something must be done," she said.

"We need a media that tackles issues in a positive manner and not stamp on their emotions.

"Waking up to shocking newspaper headlines which cripple my emotions is another form of gender based violence that should be put to an end."

Minister Misihairabwi-Mushonga said in the forthcoming elections, political violence will not be tolerated because women and children were the main victims.

"We need to engage with organisations in the Sadc region to come up with new ideas on how we can control political violence from spilling to women and children during elections," she said.

"Why do you get angry on behalf of President Robert Mugabe or Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai when they themselves wine and dine together."

The gender-based violence conference was held to review the just-ended 16 days of activism against gender based violence.