Aggrieved Citizens Boo Zimbabwe’s First Lady in Masvingo

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest."

 - Elie Wiesel

Stepping out of the presidential palace yesterday afternoon to attend to official matters and shop at the chain of supermarkets in the ancient city of Masvingo, the first lady of Zimbabwe, Auxillia Mnangagwa did not have it in mind that she will be greeted with the kind of reception she received from citizens of her country.

African political leaders are used to receiving unprecedented cheers and reverence whenever they step out in public regardless of public opinion about them or their administration. But it appears those days are long dead and buried.

The treatment the first lady received will no doubt send a strong message to her husband, President Emmerson Mnangagwa that the people are not happy with their current situation and evident lack of tangible progress in the country.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was booed in Masvingo by citizens as she entered and exited the supermarkets in the ancient city of Masvingo. Many critics have termed this as the “growing unpopularity of the first family.”

According to witnesses, Auxillia, (who is also the health ambassador for the country) and her security team were in Masvingo to visit the General Hospital. She was assessing the drugs situation before proceeding to tour a cement manufacturing plant.

Speaking to a reputable international media agency, the sources said the first lady then headed for OK Supermarket where she was greeted by few people before hostility began.

"I was at OK with her doing and she was doing her shopping with her super security all over the place.

"Passersby vabva vambomira kufamba vachiona and only a few people were ululating.

"When she was about to leave, people some started booing her showing their displeasure but she seemed unbothered as she went to her car, waving with a fist," said the source.

You will recall that the first lady is increasingly becoming less popular as citizens accuse her of meddling in government business affairs despite her not being a government office bearer.

There have been calls across the continent for the office of the first lady to be scrapped as this is often a medium to abuse power and further enrich the president and his immediate family.

Do you agree with this argument?

Header Image Credit: NewZimbabwe.com