19th July 2020,
This video features female members of
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe, namely Vongayi Mufara, Marciline
Mercy Mzondiwa, Alvina Chibhamu, Thenjiwe Ndlovu, Olivia Chamboko, Harriet
Ndlovu, Nontokozo Malaba Ncube, Mavis Harrison Tshuma, Linda Chenyama and
Delina Mutyambizi.
As a follow up to the campaign
#StopViolenceAgainstWomen which launched last month on the 7th June
2020, the Scotland Branch of ROHR Zimbabwe, joined by other members from the
wider ROHR community, has proceeded to tackle one arm of the umbrella campaign.
The focus is on Sexual torture and rape against women.
According to the
chairperson of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, Margaret Sangarwe, “Twenty two
women are raped daily in Zimbabwe, one woman is abused every 75 minutes and an
average of 646 women are being sexually-abused monthly and one in three girls
is raped or sexually assaulted before they reach the age of 18”.
While violence against women is
rampant in the country, what is most alarming and disturbing is the fact that
the very entities meant to protect women against such atrocities are the very
same ones committing the crimes.
Sexual abuse of women is being used by
the ruling party as a political tool.
The National Army, the Police
and State Security agents have been and continue to be used by the ruling party
–Zanu-PF to suppress citizens and preserve its partisan and narrow political
interests.
Section 25 of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe, states that;
“The State
and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must protect and
foster the institution of the family and in particular must endeavour, within
the limits of the resources available to them, to adopt measures for--
a. the
provision of care and assistance to mothers, fathers and other family members
who have charge of children; and
b. the
prevention of domestic violence”.
There have been countless rape and sexual assault cases
which, very sadly, are politically motivated. This is a blatant disregard and
direct violation of the said section of the constitution of Zimbabwe. These
incidents of state sponsored or state sanctioned violence are creating
institutionalised intimidation, a tool to silence dissent.
Worse still victims that make official reports to the
Police often face further violence from the perpetrators since the perpetrators
are the same people one has to make a report to.
Because the perpetrators are state sponsored, victims
face difficulties in seeking legal recourse and may face further persecution. All
this is, quite frankly, a desperate effort or last kicks of ‘ED’-dying horse to
cling onto power by all means without regard to the rights and welfare of the
citizens.
Zimbabwe state
security agents have continued these toxic acts with impunity.
We are appealing
to the Zimbabwe government to deal with this hostile environment that exists
for women in the country and stop the culture of violence against women which
has become part and parcel of the political sphere. We continue to petition the
international community to stop this culture of impunity
By ROHR Scotland Branch Committee
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