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Crisis Report - Issue 242
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
November 29,
2013
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Society
calls for stiffer penalty for rapists
Societal leaders
have called for stiffer penalties for those who commit sexual offenses
as the country marks the 16 Days of Activism against gender based
violence.
Speaking at
an event organized by Msasa
Project in collaboration with The
Women’s Trust and supported by many other civil society
organisations in Harare on Thursday, November 28, Gender, Women’s
Affairs and Community Development Minister Oppah Muchinguri called
for stiffer penalties for rapists.
“Ladies
and gentlemen, it is paramount to note that as government we are
committed to addressing cultural and traditional challenges of impunity
on issues of rape and violence against women and girls,” Muchinguri
said.
“We need
to engage with all stakeholders in particular parliament to reflect
on the sentencing of rape perpetrators.
“The sentence
should reflect our disgust towards rape and sexual violence; send
a clear message that rape or any form of sexual violence will not
be tolerated now or any time in Zimbabwe.”
Muchinguri said
she agreed with Parliamentarians who are calling for stiffer penalties
against rapists. Muchinguri condemned women who cover up rape on
young girls in order to protect their spouses and added that families
should be cautious enough not to expose girls to rape by leaving
them in the custody of suspicious men.
Muchinguri said
domestic violence and sexual harassment was driving some young girls
from their homes into the streets.
Netty Musanhu,
the director of Msasa Project spoke out against a culture of impunity
among perpetrators of rape.
“Ruzhinji
madzimai anouya kuMusasa anotaura kuti mapurisa anotengwa. (Most
of the women who come to Musasa say the police are being bribed),”
Musanhu said. “Hanzi kumacourt vari kutengwa. Saka dhora rakakosha
pahupenyu hwe mwanasikana? (They tell us that the courts are being
bribed. So do we mean that money is more important that the life
of the girl child).
“Minister
muna 2008 vakadzi vakarepwa zvikanzi ipolitics tikaramba takanyarara
zvikapera zvakadaro. (In 2008, women were raped and we were told
it was be-cause of politics, and the perpetrators enjoyed impunity.)”
It is alleged
that many women were raped during the political violence that was
perpetrated by the security forces in the period leading to the
2008 presidential election run off.
In a speech
read on his behalf by his son, Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Bishop
Nehemiah Mutendi said rape was “satanic” and any church
leaders who perpetrated rape were “wolves in sheep skin”.
Chief Chinhamora,
a member of the Chief’s Council, who represented the Council’s
President Chief Charumbira, said even married men should not force
their wives into sexual intercourse as that constituted a violation.
British Ambassador
to Zimbabwe Deborah Bronnert said there was significant under reporting
of rape cases and the crime has been “tolerated far too long,
in far too many countries” describing it as “a global
pandemic”.
Ambassador Bronnert
said violence against girls and women was a global pandemic, which
has resulted in one in every 3 women, being beaten or sexually abused
in her lifetime. The Ambassador said women, men and children have
a right to live in a world free from fear of rape and sexual violence
adding,
“Today
we come together to declare that rape and sexual violence needs
to stops”.
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