Mary Chiwenga Illness: Why the nation needs answers

 By Rawlings Magede

Early this week, Mary Mubaiwa, former wife to Zimbabwe’s Vice President, Constantine Chiwenga appeared in court facing several charges ranging from attempting to kill VP Chiwenga when he was battling for his life at a South African in hospital. She has been on routine  remand for 15 months now with the court failing to put her on trial.Everytime,she has appeared in court, images of her swollen legs and hands have gone viral with many netizens expressing shock as to what could be eating up the former wife of one of Zimbabwe’s powerful politicians. To this end, very little information is known about the cause of the disease that is eating her up.

The lack of such information has made discussion around the health of public officials futile. During the tenure of former President Robert Mugabe, there were rumours to the effect that the he had prostate cancer. Even in his death, the cause of death remains secretive. That information is only known by a selective few in foreign countries where he frequented for medical reviews and checkups. These medical professionals are up to this day still bound by the non-disclosure and confidentiality clause. Secrecy over ill health allows public figures to avoid the stigma associated with certain ailments and maintain their image as heroic and invincible. Unfortunately, it also reinforces a culture of hiding illnesses and perpetuating the stigma, guilt, disdain, and shame often associated with poor health. In the interest of the public, disclosure of an ailment allows for research, awareness and addresses issues of stigma.

A useful example if that of former American President, Ronald Reagan who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1985.In that instance, Reagan’s diagnosis and treatment was formally disclosed in detail  to the public ,generating widespread media coverage and dispassionate public discussions. Later in the years, researchers later found that the disclosure birthed a public discourse on dietary habits and an increase in awareness around the importance of health monitoring. In the years that followed after the disclosure there was a sharp drop in advanced colon cancer cases likely due to early detection  and public disclosure.

In the past, even VP Chiwenga was down with an undisclosed ailment that saw him even seeking medical attention in China where he was kept for several months while recuperating. While even rumours of his imagined death made the rounds during his stay in hospital, the details of the cause of the ailment still remained top secret. In 2019, President Emmerson Mnangagwa while giving an update to the nation on the condition of the VP, only highlighted that his “condition remained remarkably stable”. Sadly years later, after a messy divorce, Mary Chiwenga cannot have the privilege of seeking medical attention abroad. In a turn of events, unlike his want-away husband whose sickness was secretive, she has had live with the “shame and embarrassment” of coming face to face with the media during routine remand. People who have interacted with her recent pictures have expressed shock and disdain over her deteriorating condition. Attempts by her lawyers to remove her off routine remand have all been struck down by the courts. Given the sensitivities around her dilemma, all the public can do for now is to shed sympathy and tears and watch from a distance as a mysterious ailment eats her away. What a sorry sight! In a normal country where issues of public health are prioritised, her sickness is not supposed to be a top guarded secret. The general public must be given a sneak preview of the ailment that to some is still mysterious. Revealing one’s condition can open up opportunities for even the general public or other health practititioners to lend a helping hand. Watching her come for routine remand is disturbing. At one point she was brought to court by an ambulance. All this proves her deteriorating condition and the stigma attached.

Recent researches around COVID 19 have revealed the high predominance of illness-related stigmatization and discrimination in Africa. Guilt and shame is more common when conditions are infectious, terminal or are deemed to have some moral or spiritual connotations. In such circumstances, patients often report to health facilities only when their symptoms are too advanced for meaningful intervention. This often leads to poorer treatment outcomes, higher care burdens and higher mortality rates, which further perpetuates fears and contributes to a general lack of knowledge about many illnesses. The resulting stigma can become so entrenched that it tarnishes the image of the deceased and their family.

In the final analysis, the Mary Chiwenga must come out of her shell and speak openly about her ailment. She has lost all there is in this world and is only left with her life to preserve. Going public about issues around her ailment will help the public to learn more about the disease  and in some cases even proffer solutions that can assist her.

Rawlings Magede is a Development Practitioner who writes here in his personal capacity. Feedback on vamagede@gmail.com

 

 

 

The fight for constitutionalism up in smoke

By Rawlings Magede

Events of the past month have happened so fast and left many without much to do except to just watch as events unfold. Half of Legislators from the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora voted in favour of the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No.2.The Bill has ascended to the Senate where it is likely to sail through without much opposition. In response to public outcry over this unfortunate move,MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora conducted a press conference during the week where he admitted that half of his Legislators had voted in favour of  bill number  while the other half voted against it. “Those who voted Yes were voting for the women’s quota, the youth quota, the quota of women in council and devolution. Those who voted No from our camp were voting no to the running mate and the judges’ clause. We think their behavior was reasonable.”, he said. He also highlighted that his there was no backlash or disciplinary measures for those who had voted in favour of the bill. Such a confession exposes his party for lacking clarity and a position on the proposed amendment bill given that in the past he had opposed any amendments highlighting that before any amendments could be effected, there was need to implement the constitution fully. In the wake of public backlash over this issue,  Presidential Spokesperson, George Charamba branded the opposition outfit “out of depth” for having voted for the bill.

The history of Constitutional reform in Zimbabwe

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to watch the documentary of the constitution making process dubbed, “Mugabe and the Democrats” by renowned Danish film maker, Camilla Nielsson. It made sad viewing. One of the most suppressed debates during the rushed constitution making process was the manner in which even civil society colluded with opposition political parties to endorse a process that had failed to meet the principles of a people driven constitution making process. I remember during such times, those who dared question the process were either labeled or thrown off the gravy train that was fast moving towards Judgement day.

The documentary by Nielsson aptly captures the highs and lows of the constitution making process. In it, you came face to face with two desperate COPAC co-chairs, whose long time friendship was tested time and again due to pressure from their principals in the inclusive government. The documentary also exposes the desperation of the two men who wanted the process done with never mind the irregularities. It remains  a complex puzzle on why we have useless Chapter 12 Institutions that are supposed to be independent but yet Commissioners in these institutions serve at the mercy of a sitting President. Did this really come from the people or was some horse-trading between the parties in the inclusive government? The documentary however offers a reference point for future generations that will continue to stir   debate and remain on their restless lips for years to come. The new constitution that many describe as progressive has all but failed to deepen our democracy. If anything, we have even recorded increased attacks on fundamental liberties such as the right to petition and demonstrate, right of arrested and detained persons, right to personal security among other liberties. The process of realigning and repealing draconian laws has been met with stiff resitance.The political will to do such a process in earnest has been hard to come by. If anything the disregard for the constitution has even intensified under military rule that kicked in 2017 when Mugabe was ousted.

Why Mwonzora and co are doomed

The opposition is fragmented. The MDC has splint into various formations in the past and over the years we have seen erstwhile cadres finding each other again under a united front. Never in the history of opposition fights have we seen the complicit hand of the state remote controlling the turn of events. The controversial ruling made by the courts to gift Douglas Mwonzora with the power to claim the party’s Headquarters, political parties financing and control of Legislators has exposed his political outfit. Apart from this, Mwonzora has gravely exposed himself as a leader who lacks principles. It only took him a matter of seconds to shred and reverse gains in the new constitution by allowing his Legislators to collude with ZANU PF to vote for the controversial amendment bill. The will of the overwhelming number of people who voted in favour of the constitution has been overturned. In my view, there is nothing wrong with amending the constitution but in our case, we haven’t even enjoyed the benefits that came with it. We haven’t fully implemented the constitution owing to the lack of political will and grandstanding on the part of the state.

For example, there is Section 210 of the constitution that is yet to be operationalised.This important provision empowers the public to drag members of the security services to a Commission to seek redress on issues of misconduct on the part of members of the security services. The majority of people who voted in favour of this provision appreciated the need to have such a mechanism in place given their experience with members of the security services especially in past episodes of state sponsored violence such as Murambatsvina, Gukurahundi and the 2008 violence. Section 210 is one among many provisions that are yet to be operationalised.The 2023 elections will signal an end to most political careers in our country. Among those people will be Mwonzora and his outfit who have subverted the will of the people by endorsing unnecessary amendments to a relatively new and unused constitution. What do citizens stand to benefit from amendments that concentrate power and authority in the hands of a sitting President?

In the final analysis the argument by Mwonzora in his defense of voting in favour of the amendments is invalid and misplaced. There is no need to extend the Women’s Parliamentary quota system. We need to implement the equality clause in the constitution so that women have 50/50 share of positions right from even Local Authorities. On the Youth quota, it is just pure political tokenism meant to absolve loud cries from young people on political exclusion. What we need is a framework that ensures that youths are integrated and supported at all levels.

 Rawlings Magede is a Development Practitioner who writes here in his personal capacity. Feedback on vamagede@gmail.com