Meet Joana Mamombe, the 25 Year Old Zimbabwean MP

Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe was born on 18th June, 1993 in Harare. She got her secondary education at Monte Cassino Girls High School where she graduated in 2011.

She went on to bag a Bachelors Degree in Biotechnology from Chinhoyi University of Technology, where she was Gender Officer for the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) from 16 November 2013 to December 2015.

Upon graduation, she proceeded to the University of Bergen in Norway where she attained a Masters Degree in Molecular Biology from Aug 2016 to Aug 2018.

After returning to Zimbabwe this year, she joined politics and became a member of the MDC Alliance, under whose umbrella she was recently elected as MP representing Harare West and recently sworn in among the new group of legislators who took their oaths last week after the elections held on July 30.

There were however some controversies surrounding the June 30th elections, with the incumbent MP representing Harare West, Jessie Majome, whom Joan Mamombe ran against, pulling out a few weeks to the primaries, citing irregularities and accusing the party hierarchy of trying to impose Mamombe for the position.

Jessie Majome announced her decision to pull out of the primaries in May 2018, and there were reports that she did so because she felt uncomfortable with the pally between Mamombe and party leader, Nelson Chamisa - whom she felt was putting his weight behind Joana to impose her on the constituency. Majome said she had reasons to believe that the party were bending the rules to accommodate Mamombe.

"There is a qualification in terms of the criteria set by the party, only people who have been members of the party for five years can contest. 

"To the best of my knowledge, my major opponent does not meet this criteria. The second is the issue of bending rules in order to accommodate her (Joana Mamombe)...

"We also have a problem with clear dishonesty by my opponent. My contestant does not reside in Harare West, but I have been made to understand that she used an address where she does not live, in the process deceiving the party," Jessie Majome said before quitting the party.

Speaking after her inauguration during an interview with The Standard, when asked about the issue with Jessie Majome, Joana Mamombe was quoted as saying:

"I have always maintained that there is no hatchet to bury. My campaign was never about honourable Jessie Majome or about fighting anyone.

"It is unfortunate that some people saw this as a fight rather than a democratic contest.

"The rules of the party are clear that all leaders are subjected to validation and that members are free to contest.

"I am certain that we will have a platform to share a few ideas about Harare West and Parliament and there is a lot to learn for young and new MPs like myself."

Photo Credit: Joana Momombe's Personal Website