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Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
A video in which a man is seen using a whip to make young girls pull a plough in a field has sparked outrage on social media, and police investigations have established that it is a skit meant to market an upcoming episode of a local drama series, but many viewers still think it is in exceptionally bad taste and needs to be pulled.
The series named “Ndave Parumano” was produced by Cosmake Arts Production.
The sixth episode of the drama is about a widow with two girls, who were struggling to make ends meet and ended up doing menial jobs to survive.
In the skit, the young brother of the two girls’ late father is seen forcing the girls to pull a plough while beating them with a whip, despite their cries for mercy since the work was difficult.
The players in the offending skit.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said his enquiries on the video had established that it was a skit promoting a series. But anyone who suspects otherwise and who knows the man should still make a report at their nearest police station.
Mrs Monica Chidziva said the video was in bad taste. “This is inhumane. That video should have not been produced in the first place. It gives a negative picture of the girl child. They are being portrayed as weak and labourers who cannot do anything,” she said.
Mrs Erica Nyakuedzwa also said: “This is absurd. The video takes us back to the slave trade era when women were being brutally abused and forced to work. I was shocked when I saw the video until I was told that it is a skit for a drama series,” she said.
Mr Thomas Mukute said the video must be banned on YouTube as it might encourage bad behaviour among men.
“This video must be removed on YouTube or the movie must be banned from the airwaves. It does the meet the current standards of girl child empowerment and it does not give a good picture of how girl children should be treated.”
Mr Ben Chakaza from Gender Links said he could not comment since he had not seen the skit.
An official with Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe also said she had not seen the video, and therefore could not comment.
Online Reporter