WHEN the late popular reggae artiste Bob Marley performed during Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations at Rufaro Stadium in 1980, he did not only leave a legacy of being the most renowned reggae star, but also left a notable fashion trend of dreadlocks.
Veneranda Langa
The hairstyle is now so prominent that many artistes like the late Chiwoniso Maraire, renowned author Tsitsi Dangarembgwa, footballers Benjani Mwaruwari, actors, sculptors and many others wear dreadlocks.
What is now very interesting about dreadlocks is that they have knocked and got into the doors of Parliament where legislators now sport the hairstyle, albeit that some of the systems in the country like the education sector is stern with dreadlocked students resulting in many being chucked out of school for refusing to cut their hair.
There could have been other dreadlocked MPs before, but of note was former MDC Highfield MP and lawyer Munyaradzi Gwisai who attracted a lot of attention for his outspoken nature and had run-ins with officials at Parliament when he was elected.
Gwisai was expelled from his MDC party for siding with Zanu PF on the land issue.
Zanu PF had its own share of dreadlocked MPs with President Robert Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao garnering a Parliamentary seat to represent Zvimba East constituency.
During the tenure of the Seventh Parliament a professed Rastafarian who wore dreadlocks Samuel Sandla Khumalo also served in the National Assembly representing Mpopoma-Pelandaba constituency under an MDC-T ticket and he was once arraigned before the courts for alleged possession of marijuana although he was later acquitted.
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Currently, there are three male dreadlocked legislators, Trevor Saruwaka (MDC-T Mutasa Central MP, Tongesayi Mudambo (Zanu PF Harare North MP) and Zanu PF Bindura South legislator Toendepi Remigious Matangira.
Of course, there are dreadlocked female MPs like Irene Zindi (Zanu PF Mutasa South MP), Mandi Chimene (Zanu PF Makoni South MP) and Jessie Majome (MDC-T Harare West MP) who sports a short uncombed popcorn rasta hairstyle which is popular with ladies who want to maintain afro-hairdos.
Although society seems unconcerned with females who wear dreadlocks, Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma said those male MPs who wanted to keep dreadlocks were free to do so.
“There is no rule which bars male MPs from wearing dreadlocks,” Zvoma said.
“In fact, the Constitution gives them freedom to wear hairstyles of their choice as long as they are clean and dress appropriately as stipulated by the Parliamentary Standing Rules and Orders.”
Section 46 (i) of the Standing Rules and Orders stipulates that: “Every Member shall appear in attire befitting the dignity of the House”, while 46 (ii) says, “If the Speaker or Chairperson, as the case may be is of the opinion that the attire of a member present in the chamber during a sitting of the House is unsuitable or unbecoming to the dignity of the House he or she may order that Member to withdraw from the precincts of Parliament until such time that member concerned is suitably dressed.”
To date, no MP has been sent out of the House for sporting dreadlocks, but MPs have been marched out for shabby dressing or appearing in Parliament without a jacket or tie.
Saruwaka, who was born in Manicaland in 1975 and is a forester by profession, said he grew his dreadlocks in 1997 while at the Zimbabwe College of Forestry.
He said it was not just a hairstyle, but he was also a practising Rastafarian and viewed dreadlocks as a sign of purity and African pride.
“I never used to like combing my hair while at primary school and my father would force me to have it cut. When I started sporting dreadlocks, I noted that people were judgmental and viewed one with suspicion and it took a lot of courage to keep dreadlocks while campaigning to be a legislator.
“Dreadlocks can attract a lot of attention and as a result they inspired me to work hard as I was under a lot of scrutiny and I have managed to bring a lot of development to Mutasa Central,” Saruwaka said.
“I am not a Christian — I am a Rastafarian and I believe in doing well to my neighbour. I do not have a problem with advocating for legalisation of marijuana although I have problems with drugs like mandrax and cocaine. It is just a herb that was created by God.”
According to Saruwaka, people in his constituency did not discriminate against him because of his dreadlocks, but saw him as a cultured and down-to-earth being.
“A person should never be judged by their appearance as it is easy to fake and nowadays crooks put on suits. It is bad to stereotype people and conclude because they are putting on a mini skirt then they are prostitutes, and so the performance of MPs cannot be judged by their hairstyles,” he said.
Saruwaka is a footballer and captain, as well as spokesperson, of the Parliament team.
He sits in the Environment and Tourism Portfolio as well as the Education, Arts Sport and Culture committees.
Among the most notable projects he spearheaded for his constituency as MP was successfully getting a $700 000 government grant which was used to refurbish Bonda Hospital, buy an ambulance, X-ray machines, generators, hospital beds and other equipment as well as refurbishing boreholes, schools and clinics.
“I was never segregated by other parliamentarians as well as by MPs from other countries as we sometimes travel for international meetings.
“Having dreadlocks means that one is confident because it automatically attracts attention to a person.
“There is no room for failure or people will just tell you to cut your hair.
“That is why talented people like footballers, artists and musicians wear dreadlocks — one becomes unique and noticeable,” Saruwaka said. Unlike Saruwaka, 34-year-old Mudambo said he was not a Rastafarian and his dreadlocks were just a hairstyle which he decided on after being ditched by a girlfriend.
“I grew dreadlocks in 2006 after the girl I wanted to marry ditched me and I became too depressed and did not comb my hair until I decided to let it grow into locks.
“I used to look down on men who grew dreadlocks and even though I was a well-known football star, having played for Darryn T junior team between 1995-1996 and later for Black Aces in 1999 to 2001, I never used to wear dreadlocks,” he said.
Now married to Roseline Gore with two kids, one of them who is dreadlocked and attends primary school with the hairstyle, Madambo said he was not really into reggae music and as a devout Christian, he preferred listening to gospel music.
“At first, other church members tried to discriminate me on the basis of my hairstyle and I was even called to counselling sessions where they recommended I cut the dreadlocks.
“I was also victimised by one staff member at Parliament who did not know that I was actually an MP and while fetching letters from my pigeon hole, he addressed me in a disrespectful manner until I explained that I was an MP.
“My in-laws were also suspicious of me at first, but they now respect my decision to keep dreadlocks,” he said.
Madambo said the only people who did not make any fuss about his hairstyle were his constituents, adding that it was very easy for him to win the Harare North seat despite his hairstyle.
“I am humble. I work with the people and as a businessperson (commuter omnibus operator and farmer), I have used my resources to provide transport to city council personnel so that they repair broken down sewers and solve water problems bedeviling my constituency.
“I have provided commuter omnibuses for funerals and I feel it is unfair to be judged by my hairstyle,” he said.
Mudambo said people should worry about the performance of their MPs in the legislature and constituency as hairstyles were not a feature to judge the performance of MPs.
“People should not be stereotyped for wearing dreadlocks. We have MPs that are bald-headed, others have dyed their hair ginger and they cannot be judged on the basis of those hairstyles.
“The important thing is to keep them smart and presentable,” he said.
Mudambo sits in the Transport and Communication Portfolio Committee as well as the Information Communication Technology Committee. But, do Zimbabweans really judge their MPs on the basis of their hairdos?
The March 11 Movement national coordinator Gilbert Kagodora said there was nothing wrong with dreadlocks as long as they were well kept and the MPs were appropriately dressed.
“What really matters is how they play their legislative, representative and watchdog roles in Parliament.
“Their contribution in the House and constituency is what matters most, otherwise those who want to keep their long hair can do so,” Kagodora said.
Zinasu spokesperson Avoid Masiraha said hairstyles were petty issues as they were related to one’s lifestyle and culture.
“What we look at is whether an MP is able to deliver to the people who elected him into Parliament.
“Whether that MP is a Rastafarian or is bald-headed is not of significance to the electorate as hairstyles do not assist in the development of a constituency.
“It is not even something we will consider when ministers are chosen for Cabinet posts and the only essence is that they should deliver on what is their mandate,” Masiraha said.
Zimbabwe Organisation for Youth in Politics executive director Emmanuel Nkosilathi Moyo said he also had no problems with dreadlocked MPs.
“They might even be practising Rastafarians and what is important is that they represent the will of the people of their constituencies. “They should be free to wear their dreadlocks at Parliament as long as they perform well in their legislative and representation roles,” he said.
