'Woman's place is under the man', 'Black Jesus' says of Mujuru

THE self-styled pioneer of farm invasions that precipitated Zimbabwe's violent land grab in 2000, Francis Zimuto, who calls himself "Black Jesus", has waded into the divisive Zanu PF succession debate saying it was taboo for the country to be led by a woman.

Zimuto of Masvingo said according to African culture, women should be under men and Vice-President Joice Mujuru should be content with her current position.

Mujuru is believed to be involved in a tug of war with Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed President Robert Mugabe although they both publicly deny harbouring ambitions of succeeding the veteran ruler.

Zimuto was the first person to invade a farm belonging to a white commercial farmer in 2000.

He told journalists yesterday that a man, whether it be Mnangagwa or any other, should occupy the country's top post, and not a woman.

"It will be against our culture for a woman to be president. We are conservative Zimbabweans. We are not like Western countries where the queen or a female president may rule," Zimuto said.

"It will be taboo and we will not accept it. A woman's place is under the man and we are satisfied with her (Mujuru) current position as vice-president. In fact, that post should be reserved for women while the presidency should be for men," Zimuto said, in remarks likely to cause some ructions within the party.

Zimuto equated the Zanu PF presidium to a family in which a woman should be submissive to her husband by playing second fiddle.

"It is like in a typical African traditional family where a woman acts as the balance of power and children seek refuge in their mother and go through her if there are things they want," Zimuto added.

Zanu PF's spokesperson Rugare Gumbo was unreachable for comment yesterday.