Women from the Midlands and Matabeleland South provinces are still haunted by the 2008 political unrest and the Gukurahundi massacres in the early 1980s. Women from Masvingo province claim that social unrest such as Murambatsvina and the recent wave of rape and murder cases are fresh in their minds.
“The mere mention or announcement of elections invokes past memories marred by torture, rape, murder and marginalisation as a result of the liberation war, Gukurahundi and political violence. These painful wounds need healing and we demand that the government expedite the setting up a functional NPRC,” said Precious Masiziba of Matopo district.
Women live in fear
Many women are raped and murdered. Women are raped during the day in the Masvingo suburbs of Morningside and Rujeko.
“We live in fear of men who rape and kill girls and women. An old woman in her early 60’s and a middle-aged woman in her 30’s, raped and killed during the day in Morningside this month alone with no arrests made.
Last week, a 21-year-old girl coming from school with two friends was raped, stabbed in the back, burnt on her legs and left for dead while her friends sought help,” said Mary Chitanda.
CCSF Co-chairperson, Paul Juru equated a properly functioning NPRC to medicine that could heal the nation.
“People lack knowledge of the NPRC. Through the outreach programme, women are now aware of the Commission and they want to see it operating as soon as possible. We noted that although many women still bear the scars, they are prepared to come forward, redress the past and open a new page on life,” Juru said. However, Zimbabwe Human Rights Non-Governmental Organisation Forum senior projects lawyer, Tafadzwa Christmas told women attending the workshops that the NPRC should be victim and perpetrator centred in order to achieve peace and reconciliation.
“The NPRC should help establish the truth about the past, promote accountability among perpetrators of human rights violations, provide a public platform for victims, inform and catalyse public debate, recommend victim reparation, necessary legal and institutional reforms, promote social reconciliation and consolidate a democratic transition,” Christmas said.
Women are the answer
Sithabile Nyaningwe, deputy director of ONHRI is of the opinion that women should be at the forefront lobbying for the NPRC.
“When you teach a woman, you would have taught the whole family and the nation at large because women make good ambassadors. Every woman should take it upon herself to educate her family, friends, relatives and community about the NPRC. The NPRC will go a long way in addressing the social injustices such as domestic violence, rape, torture and all injustices and evils that continue to plague women,” said Nyaningwe.
Post published in: Analysis