Tabeth Mukwachi (34) said policemen have abused many women she knows.
“As women here we suffer the most at the hands of police. So many of us who are arrested on flimsy charges are physically and sexually abused,” she said.
She accused policemen of being drunk and taking advantage of the local women.
Nokuthula Chivasa, another Guruguru villager, said in cases where a woman is severely beaten, lengthy detentions have been imposed on them so that they heal while in custody.
“On the final day of going to court, the police officers resort to intimidation and threaten female suspects against complaining about the treatment before a magistrate,” she said.
Women interviewed said that if more women were employed by the ZRP, it would deal with the gender-based violence they experience. “If I am arrested by a female officer, she would not abuse me like the male officers. We would understand each other and allow proper justice to take its course,” said another female villager.
The regional coordinator for National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, Vimbai Nhutsve, said the problems faced by the women of Guruguru were related to their socialisation. “In the African culture, women are taught to be submissive to any man. So such socialisation is the reason why we have not heard any reported cases from the affected women,” she said. Netty Musanhu, the Musasa Project Director, said the issues needed to be addressed
“Those reports need to be dealt with,” she said. Her counterpart, Paul Juru of Padare, said his organisation would join other groups to fight the problem.
Midlands chief prosecutor Kadodo pointed out that complacency on the part of victims was responsible for the perpetuation of the problem.
“People tend to say if I report my case, it will not help. No! It helps. Let’s have those perpetrators book to book and tried,” he said.
Post published in: News