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Sheakudzwe Mazana

TIMES have now changed and so have people. Those we could trust in the past have now changed to be monsters. Every day, we hear news of abuse and the  perpetrators are no strangers to the abused but rather people of close relations. Now, it has become difficult trusting any person to look over our dear children. What could it be really that has made such trusted people monsters within families?  To whom should our daughters and sons turn to for guidance, love and mentoring? The sad thing is, we even hear of women actively participating with men to abuse children be they boys or girls. In some cases, some women are also known to  actively participate in discouraging the victims from disclosing the abuses, especially when the abuse is from within families.

Sexual abuse is rampant not only in families but also in places like churches, work, businesses,  schools, universities,  villages and so on. The unfortunate thing is that society in general has a tendency of sweeping these abuses under the carpet although this trend is changing nowadays as some church organisations are now speaking out against abuses and even in some cases promising to pay reparations.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), one in three women are being abused every second. It further states that around 736 million women  are subjected to physical or sexual violence monthly by an intimate partner or sexual violence from non-partner — a number that has remained largely unchanged over the past decade.

More so, the violence starts early: one in four young women (aged 15-24 years) who have been in a relationship will have already experienced violence by an intimate partner by the time they reach their mid- twenties.

In South Africa, according to Police Minister, General Bheki Cele who released the crime statistics for the second quarter of 2023/2024, 4 726 rape incidents took place at either the home of the rape victim, or the home of the perpetrator which is known to the victim, such as a family member, a friend or a neighbour.

Crime data from Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), compiled from police records, show a 74 percent jump in rape cases between 2010 and 2018. In 2010, 4 450 rape cases were recorded throughout the country while in 2018, there were 7 738 recorded rape cases. The 2018 figure translates to an average 21,2 rape cases per day.

The latest affirms Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) findings that at least 22 women are raped daily in Zimbabwe with an average of one rape taking place per 75 minutes translating to an average of 646 women being violated each month.

Issues of abuse require people to listen to victims  sharing  their experiences in order to understand the impact of such heinous acts to the victim. Most victims remember vividly particular incidents, which occurred in some cases over three decades ago as if they occurred yesterday.  Some victims cry when they relive the experience that once visited them way back and one can only imagine the deep anguish they go through time and again. A clear indication of inner scars that refuse to be erased over a period of time. Such scars bring a degree of lack of confidence to an individual and a consistent self condemnation.  The confidence of many is being eroded at an early age, the future is haunted and is at risk. 

To prevent and overcome sexual abuse, people are encouraged to seek  professional assistance as we now have counsellors, psychologists and social workers who are providing these services. Victims should never blame themselves as these situations  are brought to  them by the perpetrators without invitation. Victims should be encouraged to take the notion that they are still very important to their own family and society even after experiencing the rape.  Self condemnation drives victims to the margins of life such as suicide,  due to lack of worth.

Victims must be encouraged to communicate with other people their experiences. In other words, a wound that is opened and redressed is better than the one which remains inside the bandage.  The depth of the wound will not be known, up until the bandage is removed . Experts in counselling say talking to someone brings relief and cure of the inner scar. Therefore victims should open up and expose the wound to the wind in order to heal fast.

Institutions like families, churches and government should take a lead in encouraging victims to open up.  However, for people to open up, it is important for such institutions to win the victims’ confidence and security as such matters are confidential.

λ Sheakudzwe Mazana — Contact: 0717334707. Email: [email protected]