Tinotenda Hove – Public anger erupted this weekend after Zanu PF online activist Cleopas Mukungunugwa heaped praise on the First Lady’s latest Masvingo event, a move critics blasted as empty pageantry while ordinary women battle hunger and broken services.

Mukungunugwa posted:

“FIRST LADY DR AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA TAKES DOEK DRIVE TO MASVINGO

The First Lady of Zimbabwe, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, at the weekend took her popular Doek and Zambia Drive to Masvingo Province, where hundreds of women gathered in a vibrant celebration of culture, dignity and womanhood.”

He boasted that the programme “was marked by a colourful display of traditional doeks and zambias, symbolising the pride, identity and values that continue to define Zimbabwean womanhood.”

According to Mukungunugwa, “Addressing the gathering, Dr Mnangagwa reaffirmed her commitment to uplifting women, promoting unity and restoring respect through the preservation of African cultural values.”

His post continued: “She emphasized that the Doek Drive is not merely about attire, but about strengthening families, preserving heritage and promoting the spirit of ubuntu across communities. The First Lady also praised the resilience and contribution of women in nation-building, encouraging them to remain confident, proud and rooted in their cultural identity.”

But the event was slammed as a state-sponsored sideshow. Critics say the First Lady is rolling out costumes and speeches while Masvingo’s clinics lack drugs, school fees are unaffordable, and families skip meals.

Mukungunugwa claimed “the initiative continues to gain momentum across the country as a powerful platform for celebrating womanhood, fostering unity and safeguarding Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.” Yet for many, the “powerful platform” is a tone-deaf distraction from joblessness, inflation, and collapsing public hospitals.

As prices climb and livelihoods shrink, government-aligned cheerleaders staging “vibrant celebrations of culture, dignity and womanhood” around doeks and zambias only highlights how far removed the elite are from daily struggle.