In a disturbing revelation, the Binga District Court in Matabeleland North Province has recorded a large number of rape prosecutions involving close family members, especially cousins.
According to studies, being raped by a relative or family member is an extremely traumatic experience. It can destroy the victim’s sense of trust and security, especially during the formative years. Repeated assault exacerbates the negative, immediate and long-term effects on the victim’s life and worldview.
Fear of retaliation by the perpetrator often delays victims, especially in rural areas, from reporting violations. This forces them to endure suffering at the hands of someone close to them. Many women and girls who are abused by their relatives are forced to continue to live with or near their abusers. Even when they try to report abuse, they may fear being killed.
An example of this is a 16-year-old boy from Syambotini village 44, Chishisia District under Chief Sinamagunde in Binga, Matabeleland North Province, who allegedly raped his 17-year-old cousin before brutally cutting her body into pieces after she threatened her. To inform her mother about him.
The boy’s alleged actions left his community in shock when, after raping his cousin, he chopped off her head and left limb with an ax before removing pieces of flesh with a knife from her back, right thigh and stomach, leaving the intestines exposed. .
In a similar case, a 12-year-old girl from Kokoloza village in Lusulu was allegedly sexually assaulted by her 23-year-old cousin while herding cattle. After the alleged rape, the perpetrator threatened to kill her if she revealed the matter to anyone.
In a recent case highlighting the growing number of violations against girls, especially in rural areas, which is also before the Binga Magistrate’s Court, an 11-year-old girl from Sinamasanga village in Siabua District was allegedly raped by her 2-year-old daughter. Age 18 years. An old cousin.
This incident also serves as a stark reminder that such abuse can occur even at the hands of those considered close family members. The circumstances are that on 14 April 2024, the perpetrator, whose name has been withheld to protect the victim, was left with the victim while her parents went to the funeral.
The accused reportedly refused to attend the funeral and stayed at the victim’s house. It is alleged that when everyone went to bed, the accused was given a separate room, while the victim slept in another room with her six-year-old brother.
At approximately eight o’clock in the evening, taking advantage of the absence of the complainant’s parents, the accused went to the room where the victim was sleeping. When he knocked on the door and realized that there was no response to his knock, he entered the open room.
After the accused entered, he grabbed the victim and began to fondle her. He proceeded to undress the victim and make her lie face up on the bed before raping her.
The accused’s luck ran out when one of his relatives arrived home at around 5am to check on him.
When his relative first searched in the bedroom allocated to the accused, he was unable to find him. But he was shocked when he saw the accused coming from the room where the victim was sleeping.
The victim then reported that the accused had forcefully had sex with her.
The concerned relative then informed other villagers, and the accused fled. He was eventually arrested at Mugere fishing camp while trying to find transportation to cross the border into Zambia.
The accused has since appeared before Binga Resident Magistrate, Victor Mpofu, on charges of rape. He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until May 6. B metro