Women in Zimbabwe Challenge Ban on Sex Toys, Advocating for Sexual Freedom

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In Zimbabwe, a controversial law that categorizes sex toys as obscene and morally harmful is facing opposition from women who refuse to accept the limitations placed on their sexual pleasure.

For Sitabile Dewa, her divorce left her feeling desolate in terms of erotic satisfaction. In a socially conservative society like Zimbabwe, divorced women and single mothers are often stigmatized as undesirable partners for men. Frustrated with her situation, Dewa decided to explore the use of sex toys.

However, Zimbabwean law prohibits the importation and possession of sex toys, deeming them “indecent” and “obscene” while asserting that they pose a threat to public morality. Consequently, women found in possession of sex toys can face imprisonment.

Dewa finds this law outdated and restrictive, and she has taken her case to court, challenging its validity on the grounds that it violates her personal freedom. In March, she filed a lawsuit against the Zimbabwean government, seeking the repeal of certain sections of the law. The court is currently deliberating on her case.

Dewa’s outspoken stance on female masturbation and women’s sexuality is likely to make many Zimbabweans uncomfortable. However, women’s rights activists consider her crusade significant as it is part of a larger movement challenging the patriarchal mindset prevalent in the country. In Zimbabwe, women’s choices regarding various issues that affect their lives and bodies, including contraception, marriage, and even clothing choices, are often subjected to scrutiny and limitations.

Being a women’s rights activist herself, Dewa draws upon her own life experiences to challenge the ban on sex toys.

The enforcement of the law became evident last year when two women were arrested for possessing sex toys. One of them was operating an online business that sold sex aids to women and offered guidance on their usage. She endured two weeks of detention and was subsequently sentenced to either six years in jail or 640 hours of unpaid community service.

Debra Mwase, a program manager with Katswe Sistahood, a Zimbabwean women’s rights group, highlights that the primary concern for authorities regarding the sex toy issue is the potential marginalization of men. Sexually liberated women pose a threat to the male-dominated political, social, and cultural spheres of Zimbabwe, according to Mwase. She emphasizes that sex is still primarily viewed as something for men to enjoy, while women’s sexual experiences are often limited to their roles in childbearing.

Dewa simplifies the issue, stating, “These laws would have been repealed a long time ago if the majority of users were men.”

Another crucial aspect is Zimbabwe’s historical context. Studies have shown that prior to the imposition of European laws, culture, and religion through colonialism, African women enjoyed greater sexual freedom and expression. Sylvia Ramale, a prominent Ugandan academic, explains that pre-colonial African women were “relatively unrestrained” when it came to their sexuality. They even wore revealing clothing, she adds. However, colonialism and the accompanying foreign religion propagated notions of impurity and sin associated with women’s bodies.

Mwase finds irony in Zimbabwe’s situation, where the country has been independent and free from the oppression of white minority rule for 43 years, yet still retains laws like the one banning sex toys, which are remnants of colonial times. She points out that African societies vigorously uphold values and laws that were discarded by those who introduced them. In contrast, European societies now embrace more liberal attitudes towards sexuality and clothing, reminiscent of African practices from over a century ago.

Dewa’s campaign for access to sex toys aligns with the broader movement in Zimbabwe of women resisting oppression and advocating for a progressive future. Encouragingly, there has been a recent revival of certain aspects of the pre-colonial southern African tradition known as “Chinamwari.” These gatherings involve young women receiving sex education from older female members of their families or communities. Topics covered range from foreplay and sexual positions to sexual and reproductive health. While Chinamwari has a risqué reputation, it also holds the potential to empower young women.

In modern-day Zimbabwe, Chinamwari meetings are advertised on the internet but are accompanied by guarantees of secrecy, mainly due to prevailing attitudes towards sex and the backlash from men uncomfortable with the idea of women being knowledgeable in this domain.

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