By Gift Mashoko

Former MDC Harare West legislator and Human Rights lawyer Jessie Majome has lambasted outspoken MDC Alliance legislator for Zengeza West constituency, Job Sikhala, over his abusive post on social media attacking a lady who accused MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa of raping her.

Job Wiwa Sikhala @JobWiwa tweeted, “Guys here present can you rape this kind of a woman nyangwe ukamuwana akashadabura.”

Responding to Sikhala’s tweet, Majome tweeted, “As a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), I’m thoroughly disappointed that one touted as a human rights lawyer because of representing suspected shutdown rioters and looters would say this.

“It also puts even the wider legal profession into disrepute. When we are registered as legal practitioners we take an oath to uphold the laws of Zimbabwe, so for one to condone rape by men is bad,” said Majome.

She further added that, “As a lawyer, he (Sikhala) should know that he is possibly liable for civil suit, whatever the merits or demerits of her alleged report. I read somewhere that there are issues of mental health involved it gets even worse for him. He’s denigrating all women as fodder for rape.

“If we all just respect every woman and man’s dignity we would avoid this gaffe. Section 51 of our Constitution says: Every person has inherent dignity in their private and public life, and the right to have that dignity respected and protected. Sad that a Member Parliament and lawyer has fuelled the misogyny in this thread,” concluded Majome.

On the same note MDC T spokesperson Linda Masarira expressed her discontent towards Sikhala’s statement encouraging the lady to sue him.

Masarira tweeted, “I pray she sues for defamation of character. Zimbabweans are too gullible to propaganda. After all the naming and shaming you did to this innocent woman you think you can just pay for damages and get away with it. Its high time women put an end to cyber bullying by suing offenders.”

Sikhala is well known for being outspoken and has been involved in several adulterous affairs with married women. In August 2018, Sikhala allegedly quenched his sexual appetite with Lydia Nyamidzi wife to Obey Bangizai during 2018 harmonised election campaigns.

The opposition party has been rocked with adultery cases recent reports from Beitbridge reveal that MDC Alliance Councillors, Mayor Morgan Ncube (Ward 4) and Granger Nyoni (Ward 6) who were close friends are at each other’s throats for bedding the same woman Sithabisiwe Takawira of Ward 2 Urban.