I am really sick and tired of newspaper headlines that announce
that yet another young Swazi child has been raped, infected with HIV and/or
pregnant. What is wrong with these
men?
We currently have 15 babies who were born to mothers who were raped between
the ages of 12 and 15. We have
another 15 babies who were found in pit latrines, wrapped in garbage bags or
dumped in a river and we will never know how old those mothers were, but I can
guess that they were all very young, very afraid and very ashamed. Many other babies came from victims of rape, but over the age of 16-years.
It’s happening all over the country and in many cases is being
hidden from the police and Social Welfare so the criminals can continue the
terror that they put on young girls who can’t speak out for fear of being
killed. In so many African
countries (not just Swaziland) a girl’s body is not her own, it belongs to her
father, grandfather, uncles, cousins and brothers. What kind of a man takes joy
in having sex with his own daughter, granddaughter, sister or niece?
In Swaziland it’s hidden under something called “tibitenhlu”, which is a common
expression here used to mean “keep it hidden and in the house/family”. In English we might say “sweep it under
the rug or keeping things hidden behind closed doors”, but tibitenhlu has a more sinister meaning of hiding things within the
family.
This past week I have been directly involved in a case of a
15-year old girl who was raped by her uncle for 4 years (and infected with HIV)
and then for another year by another uncle and impregnated. The second case is
one of a 12-year old who was raped by a family member and is now pregnant at
the age of 13.
I am sick of it.
This will be a short rant, but rapists be warned. I believe that Swazi's will rise up and start reporting you to the police and you will be imprisoned. You can also be assured that there is a special place in hell for you.
Phansi Ngetibitenhlu bika kudlwengulwa kwebantfwana!
(Stop hiding secrets and report child rape!)
Live from Swaziland …
Janine
So sickening that this is happening to the girls. My heart goes out to them. They are scared and now bearing the disease passed on by superstitious or immoral men who think they may be cured of AIDS by having sex with virgins. Sickening. Thank you for what you do for these people, helping the women and children to continue in a life of purpose, to know that others care about their well-being. You have a big heart and broad shoulders to continue in this work.
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