Dozens of anti-rape protestors have been locked up by police in Harare and are due to appear in court later today.

The protestors, who included school children, had gathered at a school in Marimba Park, a high-density suburb of the capital city where the 63-year-old male deputy head teacher, Gibson Kwaramba is alleged to have raped a 13-year-old girl.

Community members joined women’s rights activists from Padare, (the Men’s Forum on Gender) the Women’s Action Group, the Federation of African Media Women, the Women and AIDS Support Network, the Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network, the Women in Politics Support Unit, the Women’s Coalition and the Zimbabwe Women Lawyer’s Association who called for stiffer punishment for the deputy head teacher and his immediate suspension from work.

“The crime of rape is a painful blight on our societies, especially given the very high incidents of HIV/AIDS in our country and the lack of post exposure treatment. We want rape to stop. We call upon the various agencies of the state such as the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the police, communities and individuals to act against it,” said a spokesperson for the organizers of the protest.

The school girl has been pulled out of class by her family, who we were concerned about her well being, having received reports that she was being mocked and harassed at school about being the teacher’s wife.

The teacher, who was released on a five thousand dollar (US$ 90 at the official rate) bail and went back to work as usual is due to appear in court on December 5. The Ministry of Education is on record as saying it was not aware of the case.

As the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence campaign draws nearer November 25, women’s rights activists are calling for stiffer penalties against perpetrators of violence against women. At the opening of Parliament earlier this year Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, said there was need for the country to enact legislation against Domestic Violence.

“It is unjust and outrageous that a rapist is not locked up, is granted bail yet those who protest against the social evil are imprisoned overnight,” the spokesperson said. “This sends out a very bad message to our society that rape is acceptable”.

ENDS/20/11/02