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The face of hope
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
July 21, 2010
Their eyes tell
a story of a traumatic past, a past long gone but never forgotten.
Scorching reminders of the pain and humiliation suffered remain;
fatherless children, sexually transmitted diseases and seclusion
by their own families. This is the heart wrenching reality of thousands
of Zimbabwean women who faced the wrath of ZANU PF youth and some
members of the military at the height of political violence in Zimbabwe.
These women were sexually abused, some raped in the full glare of
their offspring while others had guns and blunt sticks shoved up
their private parts.
"He went ahead to ask, 'sei wakashamira mutengesi?'
(Why are you dressed in skimpy clothes for a sellout?). He walked
towards me and lifted my nightdress before raping me once in front
of my nine month old son," Mrs Munengami said narrating her
ordeal to the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.
Very few of these women are like Mrs. Munengami
who has recounted her story over and over again and has courageously
spoken out on the abuses. The culmination of her courage and determination
was exhibited on the 14th of July 2010 when she, together with 44
other survivors of politically motivated rape launched the Doors
of Hope Development Trust at the Harare International Conference
Centre (HICC).
The objective of the Trust is to assist rape victims
(especially politically motivated rape and victims of all forms
of sexual abuse) to develop their own potential to handle post traumatic
events of rape or sexual abuse. Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Munengami
appealed to well wishers to assist the Trust with support and funds
so that they can change the lives of rape survivors. "One
of the objectives of the Trust is to lobby government and other
responsible authorities to avail and implement policies that accommodate
victims and survivors of politically motivated rape". She
also highlighted the need to promote healthy living for victims
through treatment, counselling and education on issues relevant
to them.
Mrs. Munengami,
together with Ms. Mary Pamire, also a survivor of rape narrated
the challenges they encountered that inspired them to form the organisation.
In 2009, the two took it upon themselves and located other women
who had also been raped and formed Doors of Hope. Mrs. Munengami
acknowledged individuals and organisations that assisted them including
gender activist Ms Luta Shaba and the Research
and Advocacy Unit (RAU).
The trust has a total of 45 women all of whom are
rape survivors who are now faced with many challenges including
high costs of seeking medical treatment for ailments such as HIV/AIDS
and STI and for prenatal care for women who unfortunately fell pregnant
due to rape. Rape is economically, physically and socially devastating.
Since the colonial
era, grave human rights abuses have been committed including rape
yet many people have turned a blind eye on the plight of rape victims.
According to a report by the Zimbabwe
Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA), in 2002 alone, close to 1,000
women were held in youth militia camps in cases of forced concubinage
which is a form of politically motivated rape. Perpetrators of such
crimes remain free while the lives of survivors have been shattered.
The Coalition commends the bold step taken by these
women and calls upon the inclusive government to take concrete steps
towards bringing perpetrators of politically motivated violence,
including rape to book and to assist the survivors of such.
Visit the Crisis
in Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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