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Yes, we let you down Priscilla Misihairanbwi - Mushonga
Women In Politics Support Unit (WIPSU)
June 07, 2010

Difficult as it might be, we, shamefully, concede that we let Priscilla down in her fight for what rightfully and by law belongs to her. As her brain child and as part of the so-called 'women's movement' we did not stand by her in her difficult times until she finally gave up what is legally and rightly hers.

Yes, Women in Politics Support Unit is a brainchild of Priscilla, yet looking back over the past year, we have failed to stand by her and there is no excuse for that. To agree with Teresa Mugadza, it is truly heartbreaking considering all the energy and passion Priscillah has put into fighting for women's rights. Not only that, Priscilla has been there for WiPSU as an organisation and is greatly the reason why WiPSU is what it is today why we are there in the first place.

Priscilla's case is a wakeup call for us as an organisation to re-evaluate what we stand for and if we are standing for what we say we stand for which in this case we have failed in deed and in principle.

People might debate and give their comments on culture or inheritance laws and give their perceptions on whether or not Priscilla deserves her late husband's estate in whole or in part but that is not the case. The case is what Priscilla is going through and what all this is doing to her as a person. It is about her emotions, it is about what she had with her husband that no one will ever know except herself and her late husband.

However, her case shows how a Zimbabwean woman is vulnerable when she becomes a widow. It is as if she is being 'punished' for losing the one she loved yet it is at this point that she needs all the support she can get. Unfortunately, we let her down and we stood by as the media had a field day with her.

This shows how we need to re-group and even strategise during the constitution making process to ensure that women are fully protected by the law. However, it goes beyond having good laws, it is also about us as women being there for each other, it is about women holding each other`s hand and giving a shoulder to cry when a sister needs it.

Priscilla forgive us, we let you down big time and we know our words will not make right our wrongs but forgive us sister.

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