By Dalphine Tagwireyi
Zimbabwean women are taking the government to court for banning the importation, possession and use of sex toys in Zimbabwe.
Sitabile Dewa, the executive director of the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (Walpe), filed an order on Thursday to have the ban declared unconstitutional.
But the government is not backing down. They expect lovers of sex toys to make do with cucumbers, bananas or candles.
Zim’s women are furious at the ban. The Zimbabwean Customs and Excise Act criminalises the importing of goods regarded as indecent.
Caroline Manhenga, a reseller of clothes from China, said she is shocked that the government wants to interfere with her private life.
“Why would they ban sex toys and how are they affecting them? I am tired of relationships and I don’t have a boyfriend, sex toys help me when I am sexually aroused,” said the 30-year-old Harare resident.
“The government wants us to use bananas, cucumbers or candles. That is not healthy. I prefer sex toys because that makes me immune to sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV,” said Dewa.
“The law is archaic and infringes on women’s rights to choose, association and safe sexual pleasure.”
A Gwanda State University lecturer, Shirley Chapunza, was recently jailed for six months for importing sex toys and given an option of paying a fine for the offence.
A Harare socialite, Ayanda Muponda, was sentenced to a two-year prison term, which was suspended on condition she performs 640 hours of community service for selling sex toys to minors.
The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi told Scrolla.Africa that the case is yet to be addressed.
Both Ziyambi and Kazembe are respondents in the case.
Pictured above: Sex toys that were being sold in Harare
Image source: Ayanda Muponda
