'Scrap duty on sanitary wear'

Matabeleland South representative in the National Assembly Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga yesterday called on Government to scrap import duty and Value Added Tax on sanitary wear.

However, she had a number of legislators blushing after she revealed that she was on her monthly period and produced pads, tampons and cotton wool to make illustrations during her debate.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga said women required approximately $20 a month for sanitary wear.

"I was asking some of my female colleagues this afternoon to say how many of us are in this House, we are close to about a 100 if you take away about 10 women who have probably reached menopause, we are close to about 90 and if you look at 31 days in a month, what it would mean is almost also every other day you have two or so women who are having their period as it is right now I am having my period and I am sure there are others," she said

She then produced different brands of sanitary wear to illustrate her point resulting in Zanu-PF chief whip Joram Gumbo leaving the house.