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Omarobane with their loot

Vaidah Mashangwa
MOST people have been following the unfolding events of the salarygate with immense interest. The unfolding revelations left many dumbfounded as Cuthbert Dube and the former ZBC boss among others were found to be awarding themselves hefty salaries at the expense of their clientele and subordinates respectively. Some authors have argued that such crimes are a result of different positions in the social structure where opportunities are higher for those that occupy higher decision making positions than those in the lower strata. In the end, that creates a gap in terms of a shared vision and value within that ladder, structure or organisation. What the led believe in and what the leaders believe in may vary.

While all this is going on, where are the women? The salarygate also had women implicated like in the case of Air Zimbabwe. While every member of society strives to achieve success and own a substantial bank balance, a Cadillac or a Beverly Hills mansion, there is greater need to achieve success through the correct channels that are acceptable within the norms and culture that one operates in. The accepted ways of achieving success are through hard work, drive, determination, ambition, talent and for others it is through educational qualifications.

By and large there are men and women who reject the rules of the game and strive for success by any means available. It becomes like a game of cards in the words of Halalambos and Hilborn which winning becomes so important that the rules are abandoned by some players.

When rules cease to operate, a situation of normlessness or anomie results. In the end norms cease to direct behaviour and positions in the social structures are used to accrue wealth. In terms of crime, research revealed that generally, the ratio of male offenders to female offenders is four to one. In most incidences, males commit 70 percent of offences such as theft and handling stolen goods.

In most states including Zimbabwe, there has been a long standing tendency for men to commit many more crimes than women. Even in diverse countries like Brazil and India women show lower rates of crime. Some cultures have also argued that the low rates might be an issue of under-recording as the law has always been lenient on women. The constitution of Zimbabwe for example excludes women from the death penalty.

Some authors have argued that the statistics seriously underestimated the extent of female criminality. It is argued that nearly all offences of shoplifting and criminal abortions were carried out by women. Apart from that, many female domestic workers commit crimes that are not usually recorded. In addition, most offences of prostitution are not recorded and women domestic roles gave them the opportunity to hide crimes such as poisoning relatives and sexually abusing their children. There is a general feeling that men are the only perpetrators of sexual offences.

Up until now men have also suffered in silence from their abusive wives, who beat them up and even force them to cook and wash clothes. It is further alleged that the police, magistrates and other law enforcement officials tend to be harsh when dealing with men and are usually lenient with female offenders more than often; female suspects were more likely than male suspects to be cautioned rather than prosecuted.

Even in terms of motoring offences, it is argued that women were treated quite leniently, research revealed that women were more likely to escape with low tariff punishments across a range of offences and were less likely to be sent to prison. Some have actually quoted the case of Dudu Manhenga, a renowned singer who ran over a pedestrian without a licence. Here the issue of femininity and masculinity tends to be considered. Men are likely to be fined and imprisoned partly because they are seen as being less central to family life than women.

Generally women see themselves as the custodians of the moral fibre and any deviant behaviour attracts criticism and rejection by society including family members. Those women who commit offences usually do it out of poverty and a need to fend for the family. Most prostitutes have always cited that as the main reason why they are in that practice.

One other reason why women do not commit crime is that they are closely monitored both at home and later by their husbands. Parents do not approve of girls or young women who come home late or travel in the evening. Apart from that, housewives have little opportunity to commit crime. The hours they spend looking after the children and home leaves them with little time to engage in criminal activities. Women also commit lesser crime than men because of fear to go out in public or dark alone as they may be attacked or sexually abused.

Women always tend to portray a positive image of themselves through the manner they eat, dress, walk and involvement in criminal activities damages their reputation. At work, women`s criminal activity is limited because women are further controlled by their male superiors or sexually abused and hence their overall freedom is limited including freedom to commit crime. Generally there are still very few women in boards and decision-making positions both in the private and public sector. Women therefore have little or no control over resources including financial resources.

It must be noted that the overall increase in criminal activities is underpinned by growing materialism and inequality in society. In Zimbabwe just like any other country, the success of individuals is determined by materialistic wealth. Even the media highlights the lifestyles of individuals who are successful in business, arts or media whose success is measured in terms of the houses, cars and the type of clothes they wear. A good example is business mogul Phillip Chiyangwa who is known for his trendy life style. As such, one would just steal a car in order to possess one of the most priced consumer goods.

Vaidah Mashangwa is the Provincial Development Officer in Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development she can be contacted on 0772111592 email [email protected]