Female-on-female rape cases on the rise in Zimbabwe

A United Nations (UN) report revealed that female-on-female sexual assault cases has recently increased in Zimbabwe.

The report claims that a lot of Zimbabwean women have been raped by other women.

United Nations claims that "due to the judiciary system in Zimbabwe, most rape victims do not get the verdict they hope for. Usually, the victims do not get access to the court mandated counselling, as a result, they do not know how to cope with their situations and often resort to patronising unaffected people in their societies."

According to The Weekend Post, rape cases have greatly increased in Zimbabwe over the past years and President Mugabe recently stated that rapists should be castrated as that would stop would-be offenders. Minister of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Oppah Muchinguri last month stunned the nation when she claimed that all married women have been raped by their husbands. Interestingly, Minister Muchinguri reportedly got married to a pastor in May this year, and it would be interesting to learn if her claim was also including herself and her husband.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has accused Zimbabwean police of developing cold feet on female rapists.

"The police refuse to comment on such issues fearing the bad light this revelation will bring upon the country. Rape on its own is viewed as an embarrassment in Zimbabwe and woman-on-woman rape will be an even worse evil to own up to. Women who were raped for years are now raping other women," a UN expert on sexual abuse, herself a victim of rape by a man, says.

Some people believe these sexual assaults are perpetrated on members of the public by frustrated homosexual women afraid to embrace their sexual orientation due to societal discrimination.

"Although no one wants to talk about this issue, it is a sad reality in our community. The reason why people will not talk about it is the nature of our society in regards to same sex intercourse. Young girls often come to us saying a trusted woman figure in their lives has abused them. Many of the perpetrators have got homosexual tendencies but are afraid to come out of the closet. The police do not think much of it because as you know, in our constitution forced woman on woman intercourse is not even called rape but assault," said a human rights activist, who preferred anonymity.

The controversial 'human rights' NGO, Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe (Galz), which itself risks being banned in Zimbabwe says society is scared of confronting this evil and is putting the blame on them (gays and lesbians).

"Our members do not force themselves on each other or on unsuspecting young women; intercourse for us is by consent. The fact that these rapes are occurring does not mean lesbian women are the ones committing them. Yes they have different preferences but are not running around forcing themselves on people," a Galz representative who preferred not to be named said.

Nyarai Kachere, a Bulawayo-based psychologist says the reasons for woman-on-woman rapes are varied, with the main reason being frustration from women raped by men seeking vengeance.

"Most of these women are frustrated because they were raped themselves. Although this does not solve anything, they seek appeasement through the wrong channel. It is a vicious cycle really. Sadly, those raped by women may commit the same crime as they do not know how to deal with it," Kachere said.

The church community expressed shock at the occurrence of woman on woman sexual assaults.