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Yoliswa Dube
ANGER erupted from the gut when those uncouth men dared to touch that woman’s dress. When they lifted the dress over her thighs, it was more than anger — it was ire and loath. And when they stripped her and poured water into her undergarments, it was more than anger and loath — it was fury, loath and rage. What insolence!
Late last year, a woman was stripped by touts at the Fourth Street commuter omnibus terminus in Harare, much to the ire of many who felt that was caveman behaviour to be tolerated by no one. A significant number of people were livid. They felt the law should take its course in dealing with these offenders and this woman deserved justice for being wronged.
A video of the Fourth Street incident went viral on different social networking sites and Zimbabweans from all over the country have pressed for the arrest of these perpetrators.
Two touts have since been arrested in connection with the incident. Marvellous Kandembiri, 32, is facing indecent assault charges and was last week denied bail and remanded to January 12.
Prosecutor Sharon Mashavira opposed bail saying granting the tout freedom would not send the right message to would-be offenders.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of Kandembiri’s accomplice, Blessing Chinokudza, alias “Soja”, 31. Kandembiri and Chinokudza allegedly committed the offence on December 12, 2014 at Fourth Street when they allegedly harassed the woman after she had refused to comply with their orders.
The woman was on her way from Kuwadzana to Ruwa and on reaching the Fourth Street commuter omnibus rank, Kandembiri summoned the woman but she refused. He called her a prostitute and invited friends to harass her. The touts went on to strip her. When a Good Samaritan tried to assist, he was threatened by the touts. The woman only managed to escape after paying a commuter omnibus crew $2.
Most women would agree the behaviour displayed by the touts at Fourth Street commuter omnibus terminus was disrespectful. It was abusive behaviour that no society should accept.
The Harare incident is only a replication of what happens at various termini around the country. In Bulawayo, some women have to look over their shoulders every time they use Basch Street Terminus (Egodini) for fear of being harassed for their choice of dressing.
Some have to cover themselves with a ‘Zambia’ just until they leave the terminus and reclaim their freedom. Others have to wear something longer over the preferred “shorter” skirt to avoid any attention at the terminus. They have reduced themselves to restroom hoppers in search of the best place to change into what they intend to spend the day in.
But wait a minute. By whose standards do men use to dictate what women should wear? In fact, if by any standards at all, should what women can and cannot wear be prescribed by anyone? Why should women live in fear for choosing how they wish their bodies to be covered? Are we not a free people, with the freedom of choice?
Women do not wholly own their freedom of dress. The moment a woman’s thighs or cleavage are exposed, they have stopped being dignified. People will stare; other women included and pass all sorts of pejorative comments. A woman’s wardrobe should not expose much of her skin. She should always look decent. Certain cultures still expect women to dress and behave in certain ways, infringing on their rights as women and individuals.
The social constructions of gender have shaped women in very specific ways. Even with the coming of “civilisation” or “modernisation”, women are still expected by the societies they come from to dress in particular ways. Like how men would not cook, clean the house or do ‘jobs’ meant for women, females by some standards would not even wear a pair of trousers, let alone a pair of shorts.
Over the years, society has gradually accepted the different ways in which women choose to dress but these touts are a current reflection of how some men still feel they have power over their female counterparts.
The “thingification” of women continues to soar as they are treated like objects men can exploit whenever they will. Women are still, shockingly, in some spheres, treated as second class citizens.
Although they may no longer need their father or brother to open a bank account on their behalf or own property, women still need to be emancipated. They have earned the highest levels of education; had opportunities to run the biggest conglomerates; penetrated the political divide but still need to be unbound.
In as much as various people, organisations and government have invested in a number of projects and policies to ensure gender equality in the country, more needs to be done to protect women from social depravities.
Parliament needs to enact laws to protect women and law enforcers need to play their role in handling incidents of abuse ingrained along gender and socio-cultural lines. Men too need to take a leading role in this cause in as much as they are believed to be the biggest oppressors of women. It need not be one person’s problem but the nation as a whole.
Online Reporter