UK-Based Chief Slams Zimbabwe First Lady’s Conference Invite

By Shingirai Vambe

UK-based Ntabazinduna Chief Felix Ndiweni has spoken out against the invitation of Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, to a conference in the UK. Chief Ndiweni, known for his outspoken views against the ruling ZANU PF party, led a protest outside the UK Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street in London.

This isn’t the first time Chief Ndiweni has taken a stand against the Mnangagwa administration. In October, he led a protest outside the British parliament, urging the UK government to rescind President Mnangagwa’s invitation to attend the COP26 climate change conference in Scotland.

Chief Ndiweni’s concerns about Auxillia Mnangagwa’s invitation stem from the treatment of women in Zimbabwe. “The Conference is tightly headed woman in parliament and development, that it could not be a more erroneous title to have invited Auxillia, knowing the number of ladies having incarcerated falsely in Zimbabwe, the treatment of women in the country is atrocious,” he said.

He questioned the logic behind inviting the First Lady to discuss women’s empowerment when Zimbabwe itself faces serious human rights issues. “Why did FLAIR invite her over to attend the Conference when there are serious violations of human rights in Zimbabwe?” Chief Ndiweni asked, highlighting the poor state of health service delivery, education, and the plight of the girl child in rural areas.

Chief Ndiweni emphasized that Auxillia Mnangagwa should not have been invited in the first place, given the Zimbabwean government’s track record on women’s rights. “She should have not been invited in the first place,” he added. He also warned that FLAIR would regret its decision to invite her, given the organization’s awareness of her role and the situation in Zimbabwe.

The Chief pointed out that Zimbabwe, as a signatory to the Convention against Women Discrimination, has failed to uphold its obligations. “Zimbabwe has not kept its oaths and obligation and its duties with regard to the African Union, Peoples and Human Rights Charter, which also specifies that women and gender issues should be taken seriously on board and should be addressed in that particular capacity further to that it has not been true to its obligations under the United Nations,” he said.

Chief Ndiweni’s criticism of the Zimbabwean government is not new. He has been vocal about the administration’s shortcomings and has been seen attending programs hosted by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa on different occasions. His arrest in the past for destroying property worth $30 belonging to a family banished from his area was described as a political arrest, given his outspoken nature against the government.

In his protest, Chief Ndiweni summed up the situation in Zimbabwe, saying, “When you go to Zimbabwe, we see nothing.” This statement underscores the widespread discontent with the current state of affairs in the country, particularly regarding human rights and governance

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