Story by Peter Chivhima, Courts Reporter
THE psychological trauma experienced by rape victims and their guardians regardless of age or gender is emotionally distressing and can take years to heal.
The case of the Gomo siblings (not their real surnames) of Njuma Village in Dema, who were allegedly indecently assaulted, is a source of agony for the whole family.
A visit to the village was as traumatic to the ZBC News crew as it is distressing to the family, laying bare the heavy burden that rape victims have to carry.
“She called us and said there was a deal she wanted to do with me. I asked what type of deal it was and she said I would see it for myself. So we got into the bedroom and she switched off the lights and she pushed me down facing upwards. That’s when she came on top of me and inserted my private parts into hers. She did the same to my older brother. After three days, I started to have pain on my private parts and I also noticed that I had developed a rash. I informed my grandmother who later told our grandfather,” said one of the rape survivors.
“I still have pain and some rash on my private parts, but what transpired is that I was called by this woman who told me that she wanted to enter into some deals with me. When we got into the bedroom, she switched off the lights before pushing me down. She removed my trousers before she inserted my private part into hers. Today, I still feel the pain and I wish I could get treatment,” noted the other child.
There is no better way or right words to explain what the family is going through save to say it is a daily nightmare.
“It is so disturbing and painful because the future of these children has been disturbed. I am the one who first noticed some rash and abnormalities on these children after they complained of pain,” noted Gogo Gomo.
Sekuru Gomo echoed, “I was called by my wife to check what was causing the rash and pain on these two children. I was shocked and I asked them what had transpired. They told me that they were forced to sleep with that woman. So it is painful because these children are still suffering from the pain and the rash.”
The community has also been sent into a soul-searching exercise, but the distress is there for everyone to see.
“It is so distressing and disturbing to hear that these children were indecently assaulted by someone who was supposed to take good care of them. We are not happy with what happened because if we are not careful, such a tragedy will strike again. Why she chose such innocent children we don’t know, but I think she needs to be mentally examined,” said a member of the community.
“It is hard to believe that the lives of these children have been scarred because of someone who failed to control her sexual feelings. I think such people deserve to stay in jail for ever because what she did is tantamount to murder,” noted another.
What is even more shocking is that the prime suspect, a relative, was acquitted last week.
She was accused of aggravated indecent assault on the juveniles (aged 12 and 13) as well as infecting them with a sexually transmitted disease.
