Africa | Zimbabwe | Activism

Zimbabwe: Author, Activist and Educator – Dr Tererai Trent

Humanitarian, scholar, educator, and author, Dr Tererai Trent is one of the world’s most internationally recognized voices for quality education and women’s empowerment. Distinguished as Oprah Winfrey’s “All-time favorite guest”, Trent is a prominent activist for equal rights to education, her contribution to this cause was born from her own fight against adversity. Trent was born in Zimbabwe (formally Rhodesia) when poverty, war, and traditional women’s roles denied women the opportunity to attend school. She secretly taught herself to read, and later wrote her dreams, which incl

Africa | Zimbabwe | Crimes

These women survived domestic abuse, now they’re sharpshooters protecting animals from poachers

Source: CBS News

Abused and disadvantaged women have become Zimbabwe's hidden weapon against poachers who kill elephants and rhinos for their tusks and horns. The Akashinga squad, or "The Brave Ones," is Zimbabwe's first all-female anti-poaching team that has quickly earned a top reputation as sharpshooters. They've arrested 80 armed poachers in the past year. Petronella Chigumbura, the star sniper of the squad, wears a full camouflage suit for solo night patrols. "When I wear this suit no one can see me, and I can hide from the poacher," Chigumbura told CBS News foreign correspondent Debora Patta in a

Africa | Zimbabwe | Courts

Zimbabwe rules indiscriminately arresting women at night is illegal, sexist

Source: The Globe and Mail

Women in Zimbabwe are starting to venture out at night without fear of being arrested on prostitution charges after the constitutional Court ruled it was illegal and sexist for police to indiscriminately arrest women on the streets and in public establishments. Before the ruling, women out at night were frequently arrested on allegations of being prostitutes. According to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, police had arrested up to 153 women on a single night. But men were not arrested on similar charges. The court ruled on May 27 that the practice was discriminatory and deprived women of eq

Africa | Zimbabwe | Crimes

Rise in rape cases cause for concern

Source: NewsDay

IN Zimbabwe, violence against women and girls has been widely discussed, but sadly the statistics of rape cases are shocking. According to records by Msasa Project, a group that provides counseling and temporary shelter to women survivors of domestic violence, on average 300 cases of violence against women are recorded monthly. Msasa Project director Netty Musanhu said 25% of women and girls in Zimbabwe experienced gender-based violence. She said relatives, neighbours and trusted people like pastors and teachers were the main perpetrators. Former Women’s Affairs minister Oppah Much

Africa | Zimbabwe | Culture

Child brides take gov’t to court over marriage laws

Source: Pangea Today

Two Zimbabwean child brides have taken the government to court in a landmark bid to get child marriages declared illegal and unconstitutional in the country. In their statements, Loveness Mudzuru and Ruvimbo Tsopodzi argued that Zimbabwe’s Marriage Act is discriminatory because it sets the minimum age at 16 for girls while it is 18 for boys. In her court affidavit, Mudzuru – now 19 years old and still married with two children – described how child marriage and poverty created a “vicious circle” for girls like her.