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What is the real agenda behind Malema-s visit?
Tafadzwa Muropa
April 01, 2010

Nearly the whole nation is talking about the Julius Malema's visit to Zimbabwe on Friday the 2nd of April 2010. Some people would ask, what's the hype all about, who is Julius Malema, and why is his visit so important? I guess, in as much as he is the South African ANCYouth League president, he has become a force to reckon with, some say he is very controversial, advocating for the nationalization of all mines in South Africa, and his brush with the Courts around hate speech on the President Jacob Zuma's case of rape in the past and how Malema verbally stated that the rape victim must have enjoyed the encounter. Not only that, he also is in trouble with some sectors of the South Africa society where he still sings songs from the apartheid era during his rallies- which is seen as 'inciting violence towards white farmers-

Does Malema's visit have any effect on the people of Zimbabwe and especially on young people? What kind of message will he be sending out there not only to Zimbabweans but to the whole African region? Are we seeing an extension of patriarchy and liberation ideology being highly elevated by the youths from liberation movements but not reflecting on how they view equitable allocation resources between, men and women? These are some of the thoughts that run into my head everytime Mr Malema speaks out in the media, and especially when he comes to Harare tomorrow.

Personally, his words and ideology should relate to his actions and as a gender activist, Malema should start treating all women with respect not only in South Africa but to the rest of Africa and globally.

Tafadzwa R Muropa is a gender activist and political economist, who writes in her own capacity.

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