A Zimbabwean female lawmaker has waved a pair of used underwear during a televised debate in the parliament in her bid to highlight the plight of poor women who cannot afford new garments in the country.
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) produced a plastic bag and took out two samples of female used clothes (second hand clothes) during a ministerial questions session on Wednesday. “I would like to ask the minister of finance, what is the government policy on the importation of second-hand underwear which may harm women’s health in the long term, but are cheap?,” she queried.
“If you look at the two pairs of panties that I have here: these ones are brand new and cost two dollars or more, but these ones, which are second-hand, cost one dollar for two pairs.”
In response, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa chided Misihairabwi-Mushonga for her actions but promised to look into the issue.
“Before I answer this important question, I believe the honorable member should have not gone that far to make her point. Anyway, I will see if I cannot make an intervention during my mid-term policy statement next week,” he said.
Misihairabwi-Mushonga was later ejected from the chamber for confronting a ruling ZANU-PF lawmaker whom she accused of making sexist remarks during her presentation.
Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a downturn for more than a decade, creating dire poverty and mass unemployment. Cheap second-hand clothes have flooded into the country, often imported from Mozambique and Zambia.
Some of the garments are made in China, while some are reportedly charity donations from Europe. In 2012, then finance minister Tendai Biti called for a ban on the import of used underwear citing health risks and the threat to human dignity.
Olisemeka Obeche (with agency reports)
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