The harrowing case of Mavis Mada, a young woman from Wedza in Mashonaland East province that broke many Zimbabweans’ hearts after the video went viral has finally been brought to an end.
Five women who were recently found guilty of a brutal assault on Mada, an incident that was captured on video and shared widely on social media, have been sentenced.
The court heard that the women, who included four juveniles, accused Mada of “gossiping” in the village. On July 4th, they lured her to a hut under the pretense of giving her vegetable seedlings. Once inside, they locked the door, stripped her naked, and subjected her to a horrific ordeal.
The five women took turns assaulting Mada with switches, and then inserted three sticks into her private parts while recording the entire incident on a mobile phone. The attack left Mada unconscious, and the women poured water on her before releasing her naked at 3 pm.
Marondera magistrate Letwin Rwodzi found the women guilty of all four counts of aggravated indecent assault, cyber-bullying, unlawful detention, and assault.
Vimbai Mike (19) and a 17-year-old, who is married and has two children, were sentenced to an effective five years in jail each for indecent assault, one year for cyberbullying for posting the video on social media, one year for unlawful detention, and another year for assault, all of which will run concurrently.
The other three juveniles, two aged 17 and one aged 16, were spared custodial sentences on condition they do not commit a similar offence for the next five years.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Vhikitara represented the State.
However, amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope has emerged for Mada. Pacific Hospital in Mabvuku, the same medical facility that provided her with free treatment, has offered her a fully-funded three-month nurse aide training program.
“The Hospital saw it fit to plough back into the community by developing people in our society,” said Nyasha Smileage Chidzingwa, Sister-in-Charge at Pacific Hospital. “Mavis will be staying at the premises and receive training for free. By training her, the Hospital wants to equip and develop her, apart from treating her.”
Mada, who is now all smiles, began her training this month. She was given a tour of the facilities by the hospital’s human resource manager, Anne Sakala, and even had the opportunity to meet some of the patients in the maternity wards before starting her training.
The hospital’s generous gesture is a testament to the power of compassion and the importance of supporting victims of violence. While the scars of the attack may never fully heal, Mada’s journey towards a brighter future has begun.
