adminTHE social media frenzy about the release of three rapist artisanal miners from prison last week is a new low in our country.
The three rapists became known as the “Tobva tadii paya” gang in 2017 when a video clip of them giving graphic details of how they gang-raped sex workers in Battlefields went viral on social media platforms, particularly in WhatsApp groups.
They were eventually tried and convicted of rape and sentenced to an effective seven-year prison term by the Kadoma Magistrates’ Court.
When they gang raped the defenceless sex workers in 2017, instant justice was meted out on them by members of the community, and their faces were visibly swollen in the video clip.
By contrast, six years down the line, the same trio were greeted as celebrities following their release from prison.
They were mobbed by people and what is more disturbing is that some even jostled to take selfies with these rapists and repeated their 2017 clip refrain “Tobva tadii paya”.
Yes, some may argue that they have paid for their crime, but it doesn’t change the fact that they are convicted rapists, and it’s shameful that we have people in our midst that glorify and celebrate the release of rapists.
Of course, the trio needs to be integrated into society, but glorifying them by taking selfies with them and posting on social media is tantamount to celebrating the evil crime of rape.
Let’s not be misled by social media all for the quest of likes to celebrate criminals as heroes.
Just what message are we sending the victims of rape when we publicly welcome them from prison as some sort of heroes.
Is it because they raped sex workers, and hence the sympathy some have for them?
Let’s treat rape as just that – rape – and nothing else. It doesn’t only become rape if the victims are from a different class in society.
Evidence presented at their trial was beyond reasonable doubt that they violently gang raped their victims while armed with machetes and knives.
The same applies to ex-cop, Jaison Muvhevhi, who became a mini celebrity on social media despite shooting to death three people in cold blood.
The pain is still fresh in the minds of relatives and loved ones of the people he killed, but some among us were subtly glorifying him all the likes and comments on our social media timelines.
The three rapists did their time and they now have to show society that they have indeed repented and been rehabilitated.
We can and should engage the released trio, but let’s reintegrate them into society without making them some form of celebrities.
Online Reporter