The paper said Zimbabwe's capital Harare was awash with rumours that Mujuru who led a campaign to ban beauty pageants in the 80s was soon to propose legislation to force women to dress-up. The Daily Mirror says Mujuru dismissed the rumour "as baseless and unfounded". “Mutemo rudzii wandisingazive? (What kind of a law is it that I am not aware of?),” Mujuru was quoted as saying.

The rumour was more rife at commuter omnibus stations, where touts could be seen ridiculing women putting on trousers, mini skirts and hipsters. Some touts, according to the paper, were heard shouting: “This is going to end on January 1 when Mujuru acts and you will be true African women.”