Citizens Crucify MP Joanah Mamombe Over Mnangagwa Handshake…7 August 2025
Citizens Crucify MP Joanah Mamombe Over Mnangagwa Handshake…
By A Correspondent
Opposition legislator Joanah Mamombe is facing fierce backlash after a photo of her shaking hands with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a government event went viral on social media Mamombe, who represents Harare West and chairs the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Tourism and Hospitality, attended the official launch of Zimbabwe’s new Tourism Policy at State House on Monday The image of her greeting the President has ignited outrage among opposition supporters, who see the gesture as a betrayal of democratic principles Some critics have gone as far as to accuse her of fraternising with the very system she was elected to challenge, with sexist insults and emotionally charged remarks dominating online discourse
However, others have defended Mamombe, highlighting the official capacity in which she attended the event Former MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader Tererai Obey Sithole said the criticism was unjustified “The vitriol and insults, some of which are sexist, directed towards Joanah are quite misplaced,” he said “She is a Member of Parliament and Chairperson of a parliamentary committee
You don’t need to like her as a person to understand this context as a basis for her presence.”
Political analyst Freddy Michael Masarirevhu also weighed in, saying the outrage lacked political understanding “The political mindset of some Zimbabweans is astonishing,” he posted on X “@JoanaMamombe chairs the Committee on Environment, Wildlife, Climate & Tourism She has an obligation to attend events related to her committee and engage various stakeholders
The President was part of the event and so was his Minister How does her shaking hands with the President become an issue?”
He added, “You wanted her to ignore the Head of State and the Minister How will that enable her to perform her duties as the Chair of the Committee Beyond anger and personal frustrations, politics also requires reasoning, logic and common sense.”
Responding to the uproar, Mamombe issued a statement on X to clarify her position
“As Chair, I led the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism & Hospitality to the launch of Zimbabwe’s new Tourism Policy,” she said “Our role is oversight and accountability to ensure policies serve the people We ought to interrogate, monitor and guide implementation of the policy.”
Source: ZimEye
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