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Brutality
in Zimbabwe: Men insert sticks into a woman`s vagina to punish her
for stealing 250grams soap
Girl
Child Network
Report compiled by: Anna Chemhere (Program Manager)
December 12, 2005
Minutes of
the meeting between Anna and Betty Chikuwira on December 08, 2005
Betty Chikuwira
sexually assaulted at 2 in 1 Brothers Shop in Unit N Chitungwiza
after stealing a 250 grams of geisher soap.
I had my first
meeting today with Betty at the GCN’s Zengeza 4 offices. My first
impression when I saw her was that she is a presentable lady, one
definitely you would not classify as living in abject poverty. I
was inclined to think that she stole probably because of a weakness
but after we conversed I got to know and understand her better.
Betty relates
that she went to the Supermarket with her two children aged 4 and
12. Whilst in the shop she stole 250 grams of geisher soap and hid
it in her pocket. Upon leaving the shop she was caught by the security
who then started to physically assault her with the assistance of
the shop keepers. The shop attendance then dragged Betty into an
inner office where they continued to assault her.
Whilst in the
inner office, a lady from the shop started to verbally abuse her
calling her a prostitute. The lady then suggested that Betty be
assaulted with a stick on her private parts because she is a prostitute.
She was nicknamed a prostitute because she had stolen bathing soap.
The accused then forced Betty’s legs apart and started inserting
wooden planks which broke in the process. The sticks reached her
uterus causing severe pain. The accused could not remove the sticks
as one of them tried to pull them out using a plastic. The lady
shop keeper did not even attempt to remove the stick as she feared
to be infected with the HIV virus by the prostitute.
Owing to blood
loss, severe pains and psychological disturbances, Betty lay unconscious
and had to be woken up by several bucket of water poured down on
her. Betty was detained in the office for almost five hours and
was only released with the arrival of the police who then ferried
her to the hospital. At Chitungwiza hospital, Betty was hospitalized
for four( 4) days and had to go to the theatre to have the sticks
removed. Her left hand was also dressed in a plaster as she had
sustained fractures.
Betty’s Circumstances
- A mother
of three (3) girls aged between 4 and 12 respectively.
- Informally
employed in the buying and selling of products both locally and
in Botswana.
- Betty is
the bread winner, her husband resides in Shamva and he has a second
family there.
- The husband
occasionally pays for the rent (1 room) and leave an average of
$ 300 000 a month for the family consumption.
- Betty struggles
to provide her family with the basic needs.
- Betty is
diabetic and has high stress levels.
How Betty
feels about the whole incident
Naked – this
was the first thing she said and wept bitterly. "Iye zvino
ndikanzi famba wakashama handirambi nekuti ndakatoonererwa kare.
Iye zvino kana nguwo yangu yemukati yandaive ndakapfeka handizivi
kwairi…’
The whole incident
violated her Human Rights. Women’s Rights are also human rights.
The whole incident demeaned her and robbed her of her sense of dignity
and worthiness.
She remembers
that when she could not stand the pain in the office and could hear
people making noise outside demanding her release. She compelled
the abusers to kill her as she felt she had suffered the worst agony.
Her husband,
Bvute only served to worsen her plight. Bvute accused Betty of stealing
and what made him furious was the fact the whole incident embarrassed
him. He did not even spent the night at the home, he left for Shamva
and gave children $300 000 for subsistence. She admits she did wrong
but thinks she would have got a better reception from her negligent
husband.
Betty has been
going to Chitungwiza police frequently seeking recourse to justice
which she feels is under threat because of bribes( out of court
settlement).
Betty expressed
anger at the fact that her tormentors are also tormenting her children.
Her 12 year old daughter whilst standing at a bus stop heard one
of the abusers boasting deliberately that they will never be convicted
as they are strategically connected with the police and the justice
delivery system.. She resents the fact that her children are also
suffering.
Action taken
- Betty filled
in the GCN’s Needs assessment form – for future assistance should
the budget warrant.
- Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights, Board member, Sarudzai is taking up
the case and will represent Betty in court on the 13th
of December 2005.
- The three
girls to go through rehabilitation at GCN having counseling sessions.
- Betty taken
through one counseling session as she is still shaken.
Visit the Girl
Child Network fact
sheet
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