By Tamara Alfred
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

A cell phone video allegedly showing a group of seven Soweto youths filming themselves raping a 17-year-old girl, who is said to have the mental age of a five-year-old, went viral on Twitter in South Africa.

Eight suspects, between 14 and 20 years of age, were arrested Tuesday morning and charged with kidnapping and rape, according to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela.

“The video is very bad.  The men can be clearly identified as they take turns raping and filming her,” Makhubela told CNN.

“The girl can be heard pleading with the boys to stop,” journalist Mandy Weiner reported.  “They crudely jest and crassly spur one another on.”

The Daily Sun, a local tabloid, reports that it was the one to alert the police after a concerned mother who caught her daughter watching the video handed it over to the paper.

“The mother of a teenage girl saw the horrifying pictures and confiscated her daughter’s phone.  A work colleague of the woman said they recognized some of the boys and advised her to take the video to Daily Sun,” the newspaper reporter.  Interestingly, the colleague did not advise the woman to go the police directly.

The paper reports that the video lasts just over 10 minutes and the girl can be heard shouting “you are forcing me” repeatedly.

The Sun was also the one to inform the victim’s mother.  The woman reportedly said that her daughter had been a victim of rape since age 12.

“People took advantage of her illness and because my family is poor,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

The girl’s mother reported her missing on March 21.  Media reports suggest the police initially failed to open a missing persons case, but that the girl has since now been found.  Police suspect the girl was kidnapped and turned into a sex slave.

A local radio station got hold of the video and has been receiving requests to post it.  Eyewitness News editor Katy Katopodis stated that the station would never do that.

“To those asking for the #rapevideo link that #EWN reported on today.  Stop!  Not happening!  We’d never put it on our site.  Illegal & wrong,” Katopodis posted on Twitter.

According to the Film and Publication Board CEO Yoliswa Makhasi, the Films and Publications Act states that minors may not be used or featured in pornographic content and the creation, possession and distribution of child pornography is illegal.  Authorities have warned anyone who has received a copy of the video to delete it or risk being charged under these laws.

A popular radio talk show host broke down Wednesday morning as she encouraged listeners to come up with solutions to the problem of rape in the country.  According to the latest police statistics more than 60,000 cases of sexual assault were reported in the year ending March 2011, down from 70,000 in 2008.  NGOs estimate a woman is raped every 26 seconds in the country.  Women’s rights activist Lisa Vetten says that in the province where Johannesburg is located, one in every five rapes is a gang rape.

“Rape is a young man’s crime.  It’s a bit of a performance for them, showing off to each other how macho they are,” said Vetten.  “We need to teach our young men that you can be masculine in ways that do not involve violence and degrading women.”

Experts say that the South African government is well aware that the problem needs urgent attention.  “We are not lacking in terms of legal instruments to deal with this kind of thing,” said Nomboniso Gasa, an expert on gender and culture.  “What we lack are ways of making these instruments effective.”

The country has created a ministry of women and children headed by Lulu Xingwana precisely to deal with violence against women and other related matters.  Xingwana says that this case will be a high priority.  “Distributing child porn is illegal in this country so the police must confiscate this video,” said Xingwana in a radio interview.  Furthermore, “[i]n addition to the painful ordeal of rape the young woman was forced to endure, she is now subjected to a second assault on her dignity (the video),” Xingwana added.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Outrage in South Africa over internet rape video – 18 April 2012

CNN – Shocking rape video goes viral in South Africa – 18 April 2012

South African Press Association – South Africa: Board Warns About Rape Video – 18 April 2012

By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

LILONGWE, Malawi – Joyce Banda was sworn in as Malawi’s first female president on Saturday, a week after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika, whose party expelled her after a disagreement over whether his brother Peter could succeed him.  The former vice president takes on the task of rebuilding a crumbling economy and restoring confidence in government.

“The first priority would be to revamp the economy and ensure that there is good governance,” said Banda.  “I know this is a great challenge but I thank all Malawians for having confidence in me.”

She took her first steps in that process on Monday, firing Police Inspector General Peter Mukhito.  Once hailed by Mutharika as the best IG Malawi ever had, Mukhito’s departure came as a surprise to some.  Banda’s administration did not provide an explanation, but his handling of recent events may have been a factor.  The country faced anti-government protests about the economy last July.  In response to the rallies, Malawian police fired into the crowds, killing at least 19 people.

Mukhito garnered fame for his questioning a lecturer about his comparisons between the Arab Spring uprisings and the country’s fuel crisis last year.  The incident escalated to the point that Chancellor College, part of the University of Malawi, was forced to close.  According to the People’s Party (PP) Orange Intellectuals, the youth wing of Banda’s political party, the conflict over academic freedom raged for eight months.  It welcomed the change in leadership.

“This could not have come at a better time,” said National Coordinator Edgar Chipalanjira, a student at the since-reopened Chancellor College.  “Honestly, it was hell under the former IG who was ironically dubbed ‘finest ever’ by the late President.  Those were the days no Malawian would wish to experience again.”

Banda has appointed commissioner Lot Dzonzi to replace Mukhito.

She will face a stiffer challenge on economic issues.  In the year before his death, Mutharika had a falling out with the United Kingdom, who cut off its aid to Malawi.  This has contributed to a shortage of foreign currency, as Mutharika also had poor relations with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.  Despite these hurdles, and her party’s lack of representation in Parliament, the government does not expect much political wrangling.

“We would like to help the new president to rebuild the country. Malawi at the moment is confronted by several challenges and the new needs support from lawmakers. By working with her, Malawians will benefit from development projects,” said an optimistic Ken Kandodo, the country’s former finance minister.  “We had [a] very smooth transition according to the Constitution. There were some people from the national governing council who wanted to disrupt this smooth process but have failed. We should all celebrate because democracy has triumphed.”

But government alone will not be enough to guarantee a successful turnaround.  Banda has emphasized the need to reestablish relations with foreign exchanges and to build up its own industries once again.

“The economy is on a downward spiral with challenges of availability of foreign exchange, fuel shortages and failure to pay civil servant on time or at all,” Banda said last May.  “The private sector is constrained to take an active role.  The country needs to urgently find alternative sources of foreign exchange.”

For more information, please see:

BBC — Malawi’s New President Sacks Police Chief Mukhito — 9 April 2012

Daily Times (Malawi) — Banda Tipped on Priorities — 9 April 2012

Daily Times (Malawi) — Industry Hopeful with New Regime — 9 April 2012

Nyasa Times — PP “Intellectuals” Hail Appointment of New Police Chief — 9 April 2012

Malawi Voice — Inspector of Police Mukhito Fired; Dzonzi Takes Over — 8 April 2012

New York Times — In Mourning, Malawi Swears in a New President — 7 April 2012

By Tamara Alfred
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

An anti-gay group in Liberia released a “hit list” on April 3 of people they believe should be punished for their participation in the gay rights movement.

Movement Against Gays in Liberia (MOGAL) distributed fliers over the weekend in parts of Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, threatening to take out the individuals one by one.  The fliers allege that gays and lesbians want to destroy Liberia and do not have the nation’s best interests at heart.  MOGAL said those involved in promoting gay rights “should not be given space to get a gulp of air.”

“Having conducted a comprehensive investigation, we are convinced that the below listed individuals are gays or supporters of the club who don’t mean well for our country,” the fliers read.  “Therefore, we have agreed to go after them using all means in life.”

While no individual MOGAL members signed the fliers, Moses Tapleh, a 28-year-old affiliated with the group, stressed that its threats should be taken seriously.  “We will get them one by one,” he said.  “They want to spoil our country.”

When asked what action might be taken against those on the list, Tapleh said they could be subjected to “dangerous punishments” including “flogging and death.”

The flier warned that MOGAL would begin taking action soon.  “Let these individuals be aware that we are coming after them soon,” the flier reads.  “We urge them to also begin saying their Lord’s prayers.”

One of the persons whose name appeared on the list already reported receiving threatening phone calls.

The fliers are yet another example of the growing hostility towards gays and lesbians on the west coast of Africa.  Liberian law currently does not explicitly address homosexuality.  “Voluntary sodomy” is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison.  President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf last month vowed to preserve this law, prompting a statement of concern from the U.S. State Department.

Additionally, last February, two proposals were introduced in the legislature making homosexuality punishable by prison terms.  One of the proposed bills would make same-sex sexual practice a second-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.  The other bill would make same-sex marriage a first-degree felony, with sentences ranging up to 10 years in prison.

Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, said the emergence of the “hit list” should put pressure on President Sirleaf to take a stance in support of gay rights.  Simply refusing to sign the new anti-gay laws was insufficient, according to Reid.

“She cannot sit on the fence when there’s this kind of provocation taking place,” said Reid.  “She needs to take a clear and unequivocal stance on this issue.”

Homophobia is widespread in Africa.  Last year, Nigeria voted in favor of a bill that would criminalize gay marriage, gay advocacy groups and same-sex public displays of affection.  In 2009, Uganda introduced a bill that would impose the death penalty for some gays and lesbians.  Even in South Africa, the only African nation to recognize gay marriage, so-called “corrective” rapes have been carried out on lesbians.

For more information, please see:

Africa Review – Anti-gay hit-list in circulation in Liberia – 4 April 2012

Scrimac.com – Liberian Gays Threatened With Death on Hit List Fliers – 3 April 2012

The Washington Post – Anti-gay group in Liberia issues hit list, threatens to ‘get to them one by one’ – 3 April 2012

By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

DAKAR, Senegal – Sunday night marked the end of a long, contentious presidential election cycle in Senegal, the only West African country to have never been marred by a military coup or a civil war that reached the capital.  At about 9:30 p.m. local time, incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade placed a phone call to his opponent in the run-off vote, former protégé Macky Sall, to concede defeat.  Even before Wade conceded, proud Senegalese celebrated in the streets of Dakar in recognition of a change of the guard and a possible end to the violence that had left at least six people dead during the campaign.

“Senegal, in a transparent election, has proven once again that it is and remains a great democracy, a great country,” Mr. Wade’s press secretary said in a statement announcing his concession.

This election had been a source of controversy for months.  The 85-year-old—but possibly older—Wade  attempted to circumvent the constitution’s two-term limit, which he installed, by claiming his first term did not count because he served it before the limit’s passage.  His decision was met by derision by opponents and civilians alike, who considered him to be too grandiose and, at times, a person who wasted resources.  Youth groups soon targeted him through the use of highly critical rap songs.

The first round of elections took place last month.  Wade earned the largest share of the vote, with 34.8%, followed by the 50-year-old Sall, at 26.6%.  Twelve other candidates had their names on the ballot, and all of whom backed Sall in Sunday’s second round.  As neighboring Mali stood on the verge of its first coup in more than twenty years, peace prevailed at the polls in Senegal, despite fears of vote rigging in order to ensure Wade’s defeat.  It proved unnecessary, as preliminary totals showed Sall supporters outnumbering Wade backers at a rate of more than two to one, including in Wade’s home constitutency.

“The real winner remains the Senegalese people,” he said in his victory address.  “We have shown to the world that our democracy is mature.  I will be the president of all the Senegalese.”

For Sall, a geologist who once served as prime minster under Wade, the results signify a return to prominence after five years away from Dakar.  While he was president of the National Assembly, he called Wade’s son, Karim, to the capital for questioning on public spending.  This action angered the president, who was believed to be grooming Karim as his successor.  From there, Sall returned to his hometown of Fatick, where he was elected mayor.  He ran a platform calling for “a style of government that is more sober and efficient” than the extravagant Wade.

Wade’s concession and the presumed easy transition that will follow stands in marked contrast to contentious and occasionally violent fights for control in Senegal’s neighbors.  But in this coastal country, where democracy has reigned, the voters turned to the polls to bring about changed.

“This is a great victory for Senegal — it shows the maturity of our democracy,” said sociologist Hadiya Tandian. “It shows that the Senegalese believe in their voter IDs, that a voter card can change something, can make a difference. It shows that our long democratic heritage continues to live in us day by day.”

General reaction was one of euphoria, but skepticism remains.  Sall’s connections to Wade are well-known, and his statements could be a façade.

“We have never seen a president elected with this kind of landslide victory [in Senegal]. It gives a lot of political capital [to Sall],” said Senegalese political analyst Aly Fary Ndieye.  “The question now is how will Macky Sall turn this win into political power.  The biggest challenge now is how to effectively implement policies to benefit Senegalese people.”

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Senegal Opposition Celebrates Election Win — 26 March 2012

BBC — Macky Sall Senegal Election Win “Example for Africa” — 26 March 2012

BBC — Senegal Proud of Peaceful Election after Macky Sall Win — 26 March 2012

Senegambia News — Macky Sall Wins Senegal Run-Off Votes — 26 March 2012

New York Times — A Turbulence-Free Election in Senegal — 25 March 2012

By Tamara Alfred
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Reports of gangs of beautiful women picking up male travelers to have sex and harvest their sperm in condoms have been gripping Zimbabwe recently.

Local media in Zimbabwe have reported that male victims have been drugged, subdued at gun or knife point, given a sexual stimulant and forced into repeated sex before being dumped on the side of the road.

The so-called sperm hunters first appeared in the press in 2009, but police have only arrested three women, found with a plastic bag of 31 used condoms in October.  The women were alleged to have violated 17 men.  However, the women have received a large amount of press attention and public anger, including death threats.

Technically, though, what these women are doing is not illegal.  No law in Zimbabwe criminalizes rape by women.  As a result, the women have been charged with 17 counts of aggravated indecent assault.

So far, local authorities are unable to tell exactly how many incidents have occurred.  Nakai Nengomasha, a counselor who’s worked with some of the male victims, suggested there could be more cases which have gone unreported.

“I think there has been a lot of under-reporting because the victims will feel not man enough to talk about such issues and that will hinder them from speaking out,” Nengomasha told the BBC.  “Some have to deal with the issue of seeing the assault as a loss of manhood and feel disgusted with themselves.

The sperm’s exact use is not clear, but it is thought to be intended for “juju” or traditional rituals to bring luck.  It is also not known why the semen is taken forcibly from strangers.  A spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association suggested that one reason why the harvesters do not solicit sperm from their loved ones is the belief that sperm used in “jujus” could bring on trouble for the man.

The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association slams the practice, mainly because they believe it to be form of witchcraft.  Additionally, “it has really frightened people,” said spokesman George Kandiyero.  “It has really brought in a bit of shock because normally it was the other way round, normally we know of men raping women, not women raping men.”

“Now, men fear women,” said 19-year-old Susan Dhliwayo.  Dhliwayo was shocked was she pulled her car over to pick up a group of male hitchhikers and they refused to get in.  “They said: ‘we can’t go with you because we don’t trust you’.”

Not everyone is outraged or shocked at the stories.   Tende Marahu, 24, tells stories of “sugar mamas” picking up young men from the streets to collect their sperm secured in a knotted condom after sex.  “It started a long time back,” Marahu said, adding that while he had not been involved, he would happily do so for the money.  “To me, I didn’t get shocked because I already knew it was happening.”

As well, a Zimbabwean women’s rights group has criticized the spotlight shifting to male rape victims.  The group paid for a newspaper advertisement to deplore that violence against women in the country is not met with the same degree of shock.

For more information, please see:

The Daily Mail – Men fear women in Zimbabwe after spate of rapes to harvest their sperm – 23 March 2012

International Business Times – Zimbabwe ‘Sperm Hunters’ Raise Fear Among Hitchhikers – 23 March 2012

The Raw Story – Sperm-hunting women prowl Zimbabwe highways – 22 March 2012