Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ The possession and importation of sex toys are illegal in Zimbabwe under the country’s “censorship and entertainments control” law. However, Sitabile Dewa, a women’s rights activist, is challenging the law in court, arguing that it is repressive and infringes on her freedom. Dewa filed a lawsuit in March against the Zimbabwe government seeking the repeal of parts of the law. Her case is currently being considered by the court.
The enforcement of the law was demonstrated last year when two women were arrested for possessing sex toys. One of them, who was running an online business selling sex aids to women, was sentenced to six years in jail or 640 hours of unpaid community work.
Women’s rights campaigners see Dewa’s challenge as significant in the broader context of challenging Zimbabwe’s patriarchal outlook. The nation’s patriarchal society often scrutinizes and limits women’s choices on various issues related to their bodies, including contraception, marriage, and clothing.
Debra Mwase, a programs manager with Katswe Sistahood, a Zimbabwean women’s rights group, believes that sexually liberated women frighten the men who dominate Zimbabwe’s political, social, and cultural spaces. Sex is often seen as something primarily for men to enjoy, while women’s sexuality is framed as essential only for childbearing.
Zimbabwe’s history also plays a role in shaping attitudes toward women’s sexuality. Before the imposition of European laws, culture, and religion during colonialism, African women were more sexually expressive. However, colonialism and foreign religions introduced the notion of impurity and sin associated with women’s bodies, stifling their sexual freedom.
While there are efforts to challenge these oppressive views, such as the revival of the Chinamwari tradition, where young women receive sex education from older women in their community, the prevailing attitudes toward sex and women’s empowerment continue to present challenges.
Dewa’s campaign for access to sex toys is seen as part of a broader movement in Zimbabwe where women are tired of oppression and are striving for forward-thinking change..
