Tracking human and social development issues.

Female rapists… my unanswered questions

For those who have been following the ‘crime scene’ in Zimbabwe, the story of the three ‘female rapists’ arrested in Gweru would not be a new revelation.

For some–relatives, friends, foes and victims alike–the three are well known to them. Their faces, including that of the 24 year old ‘female rapists pimp’ were even splashed in some newspapers in the past two weeks.

Different theories have been constructed, and for as long as the trial is ongoing, I will have several unanswered questions. I will present ‘a few’ below (yes, I have plenty of them). Some might even view the questions as unorthodox, but whatever the case will be, these needed to be asked.

IDENTITY

The accused ‘female rapists’ and their accomplice were identified by both name and photo. This, I believe, and as Ropafadzo Mapimhidze also argued in her article, was a travesty of justice. Haven’t they already been convicted by the media? If they are found to be innocent, who would dare to employ them (in a lawful set-up of course) or even court them for possible marriage (if at all they intend to get married at some point)? Talk of a future destroyed.

How many ‘male rapists’ are not identified by both name and photo, yet theirs might even be more emotionally disturbing cases? How many times have we read a statement like, the man’s name could not be revealed ‘to protect the identity of the minor‘?

Fair and fine. But what would happen in the event that the man is out of prison (if at all he is convicted and sentenced to a prison term) after serving whatever term he would have been given? Surely, we have seen ex-convicts who would be back behind bars barely 24 hours after they would have been released, either after serving their full terms or having been beneficiaries of a presidential pardon. What would we say if this same person were to go and rape another minor? His name is withheld ‘to protect the identify of the minor’?

Is it better to reveal the identity of the woman who would have raped one’s/would be husband, than it is to reveal the identity of the man who would have raped one’s daughter, sister, etc? In fact, who knows if that semen found in the condoms in the car was not from a minor?  We have read of 12 year old fathers, haven’t we?

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Apparently, men’s semen is selling like hot cakes in the country and abroad. Really? If so, then bravo to the accused for identifying a business opportunity and creating their niche, well before the market had been flooded.

However, my simplest entrepreneurial knowledge (if I dare claim to possess some of it) shows that when there is low production and supply, demand is high. And so will be the prices for the commodity too. So what does this mean about the level of production and supply of semen in the country? Are all these men (myself included) not capable enough to produce enough semen to flood the market and then, maybe, there will not be any need for female rapists in the future? Or are we just not business minded enough to venture into this market?

Honestly, I do not see anything illegal about volunteering one’s semen if it is good for our sisters’ hair or facial beauty as reported. Afterall, we volunteer with our own blood, don’t we? Well, I last did that in the 90s if I remember well. Shame on me!

What’s wrong with volunteering any of our body fluids and getting a few of Obama money (US$) out of it? Well, legally of course. Or for the body fluid to be extra effective, it has to be forcibly extracted from the source? Someone enlighten me please! If so, then my advice to men is, ‘RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!’ This is selling like hot cakes, remember?

On using force, was it just that they did not have the negotiating skills to collect the semen voluntarily? Surely the ‘pimp’ could have managed to entice his friends to volunteer.

RITUALS

I have heard too that the semen was/is used for ritual purposes. Really? If so, and it is a known secret, then how come the Zimbabwe national soccer team failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations? With all these soccer loving Zimbabwean men who would have so easily donated their semen?

I believe too that the soccer loving women in this country would have easily convinced their men to gladly donate. Why force it out? And we still failed to qualify. Or does it mean the Malians’ semen is more powerful than that of Zimbabweans?

DNA

Can it be proven whether the semen was really taken as a result of sexual intercourse or not? If so, can it be proven on each of the 31 used condoms found in the car which of the three women was involved in the act? Will we stand the possible revelation that neither of the three was involved? Will we stomach it if it becomes clear that it is not just a few women who are doing this, but that there are plenty out there?

‘Acts of the night’ are so common in Zimbabwe. Just like in any other city around the world, commercial sex work is prevalent. In one report, the three were quoted as saying that they are just hardworking prostitutes. Would that then mean a lesser charge? What if each used condom is actually an indicator of their hard work, then at the end of the day they split the revenue according to the condoms you would have used?

And what if they are just collectors? C’mon, we have stamp collectors, don’t we? Is it wrong only because it is a cultural taboo to even think like this?

ANYWAY, THESE WERE JUST MY FEW QUESTIONS. NOT IN ANY WAY CONDONING THE ACTS OR THE PERPETRATORS. JUST TREADING INTO THE UNTALKED ABOUT. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THERE IS NOTHING TABOO ABOUT CULTURAL TABOOS IF WE ARE TO SOLVE THE SOCIAL ILLS!!!

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