Netsai Marova

Netsai Marova is a Zimbabwean youth campaigner for the Movement for Democratic Change, who was abducted for two days at an anti-government protest in May 2020.[1]

As a student at Chinhoyi University of Technology at the age of 15,Marova highlighted the vulnerable position of women students there in 2017.[2] She has been mentored by MP Joana Mamombe, a fellow Chinhoyi student, and has in turn provided similar support to young girls in Mabvuku.[3]

On 13 May 2020 she and two other women, MP Joana Mamombe and fellow youth activist Cecilia Chimbiri, were abducted by masked assailants at a Harare protest against the government's failure to provide for the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two days later, the women were found, badly injured and traumatised, by the side of the road sixty miles from Harare. They reported having been tortured and repeatedly sexually assaulted.[4] The three women were then charged with "communicating falsehoods" for their claims to have been abducted, tortured and held incommunicado by unidentified people. In August 2020 they appeared at court,[5] and had their trial postponed until September 15.[6]

Fearless MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official Netsai Marova’s name has appeared on the Gumiguru list of 50 under 30 emerging young leaders in Zimbabwe. Netsai is on sixth position.Wow! what an honour to be recognised, celebrated and counted on the list of 50 under 30 Emerging young leaders in Zimbabwe, class of 2021 being on number 6 and together with other phenomenal leaders.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Shingai Nyoka, 'Tortured Zimbabwe abductees' may face prosecution, BBC News, 19 May 2020. Accessed 30 May 2020.
  2. ^ Zachariah Mushawatu, Higher education in a failed economy – Students at risk, University World News, 3 March 2017. Accessed 26 August 2020.
  3. ^ Linda Mujuru, Youngest Woman in Zimbabwe’s Parliament Works to Boost Youths’ Civic Engagement, Global Press Journal, 2 November 2018. Accessed 26 August 2020.
  4. ^ Jason Burke and Nyasha Chingono, Zimbabwean MDC activists 'abducted and sexually assaulted', The Guardian, 17 May 2020. Accessed 30 May 2020.
  5. ^ Mandla Ndlovu, 3 abducted MDC ladies back in court, Bulawayo, 26 August 2020. Accessed 26 August 2020.
  6. ^ Gerald Ncube, State piles more misery on MDC Alliance female activists, Zimbabwe Daily, 26 August 2020. Accessed 26 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Netsai Marova Honoured – ZimEye". Retrieved 2021-10-26.

Further reading