Rich people using mutototo to abuse rural women in Eastern – Mwale

Rich people are abusing rural women in Eastern Province after drinking mutototo [traditional sexual booster], acting gender minister Vincent Mwale told Parliament on Thursday.

And Mwale says men are not monsters that would force their wives to have sex with them against their will.

Meanwhile, Mafinga MMD member of parliament Catherine Namugala says marital rape is a serious problem requiring the law.

Winding up debate on the gender equity and equality bill of 2015 which came up for second reading in the House on Thursday, Mwale said the government was concerned with the wanton abuse of women, especially young girls.

He explained that the government meant well to formulate an Act to establish the gender equity and equality commission and provide for its functions and powers as well as to provide for the taking of measures and making of strategic decisions in all spheres in order to ensure gender equity, equality and integration of both sexes in society.

“Mr Speaker, we want to ensure that our womenfolk are protected, especially young girls. It’s of so much concern, Mr Speaker, that people of rich status abuse rural women in Eastern Province, especially after drinking mutototo or mwananiche [traditional boosters],” Mwale, who is also sports minister, said.

“Even the term ‘mwananiche, which says after taking it, you are in trouble’ is another traditional sexual booster and from its interpretation, you can imagine what it means. These are our young people we want to protect and not those who can talk and consent to bad habits!”

And Mwale said no man would want to have sex with his wife against her consent.

“Mr Speaker, men are not monsters to force themselves on their wives. We love to have sex with our wives at their consent,” said Mwale.

Meanwhile, Namugala contended that the gender bill in question should have addressed marital rape.

“Marital rape should have been included in the gender bill before the House, Mr Speaker, because it’s a problem,” Namugala said, sending the male members into laughter. “It can also be the other way round but normally, men are stronger than women and so women are more prone to being raped and a wife especially. Marital rape is a real threat and women yield in to such because they feel that if they are left by their husbands, they will have no economic empowerment.”

Meanwhile, Mumbwa Central MMD member of parliament Dr Brian Chituwo, in his debate on the bill that passed second reading, noted that marital rape arose when there was communication breakdown in a home.

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