Two years ago, amid sexual assault accusations against famed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein surfacing, actress Alyssa Milano urged assault and harassment victims to share their story on social media using the hashtag #MeToo.
The phrase, first used by activist Tarana Burke in 2006, quickly went viral.
In 48 hours, the hashtag had been shared nearly a million times, with many sharing how they had been a victim themselves.
By October 17 (three days later), Facebook reported that 45 percent of U.S. users had a friend who posted “me too,” according to a CBS News report.
The movement left no stone unturned as it penetrated every industry and institution, bringing women’s experiences into the light and providing support for those who have been abused, while exposing perpetrators of sexual abuse.
The movement also wormed its way into the church and myriad of sexual misconduct allegations brought about the resignations of numerous church leaders, including Bill Hybels, Andy Savage, and other mega-church pastors.
The stories led to virtually all pastors being aware of the movement.
According to a LifeWay Research study, nearly 9 in 10 Protestant pastors in the United States of America say they have heard of the #MeToo movement.
In recent months, the wave of accusations of sexual harassment, misconduct and the assault has been described as a revolution, a moment and a time for an international reckoning.
Some of the accused — abruptly fired or resigned — have either issued apology statements or, in some cases denied wrongdoing.
Those who have come forward — predominantly women, but also some men emboldened by the solidarity of the #MeToo movement — were named “Silence Breakers” by Time Magazine and honoured as its 2017 Person of the Year.
To many followers of the Christian faith, the non-exceptionalism of the Church by the #MeToo movement did not come as a rude awakening as the sexual abuse of women, children and vulnerable adults have been normalised in Christian clerical culture.
Abuse is exercised at every level of the ministry, from parish priest/laymen to most senior clerics.
Perpetrators are protected and victims silenced. This is aided by a culture of clerical entitlement and opportunity.
Following reports of an increasing number of women who have been speaking out, alleging that they were sexually abused by Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya, it appears the #MeToo moment has finally overrun Zimbabwe as a grouping of non-governmental organisations which fight for women’s rights are calling on responsible duty bearers with a mandate to end all forms of gender-based violence to commission an inquiry.
Addressing a press briefing last Friday, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe chair, Ms Ronika Mumbire, said the coalition was not accusing the prophet of any wrong-doing, but that the string of sexual abuse allegations by various women against him is cause for concern and should be looked into as a matter of urgency, hence the need for an inquiry to establish if he is guilty or not.
“The allegations of sexual violence in circulation on social and mainstream media in the past weeks have caused public alarm resulting in a wave of anxiety, insecurities, by women in church spaces, and speculations around the conduct of church leaders.
Equally disturbing is the series of video and images in circulation, where the women who had initially reported violation are withdrawing their reports through the same platforms. This raises questions around the credibility of allegations, public confusion and backlash.
Given the fact that the Zimbabwean society is largely religious, it is of public interest that the allegations levelled against Mr Magaya be taken with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.”
The coalition said the inquiry should be broadened to include the Zimbabwe Republic Police, senior politicians and the media, all who have been complicit in covering up the said allegations against the man-of-cloth.
Calls were made to the Parliament of Zimbabwe to develop a regulatory framework that ensures that there is a human right oversight and safeguarding in churches and to all those who have been abused to come out and speak or call their toll free number 08080230.
“We are calling on women and girls who have been sexually abused to come forward and as women rights organisation, we commit to provide support, security and ensure that the cases are reported and followed up with the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” said Ms Mumbire.
The women group also appealed to people with information to contribute to investigations to come forward and speak out.
Ms Mumbire said that the coalition had written to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, Gender Commission, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Parliament of Zimbabwe and various other stakeholders so that an inquiry be set up to investigate the several allegations.
“We have been engaging several stakeholders, offline, and we are encouraged by the responses we have received so far and as new developments emerge, we will advise the nation. As of now we are seized with the matter and would like Magaya to clear his name.
But because there have been several accusations of cover-ups, we are saying the inquiry should not be limited to Magaya alone, but also our national police, the media and politicians, some of whom have been accused of being complicit in covering up for the prophet.
We are not saying the prophet is guilty, but what has worried us as women is that there is a pattern to the accusations, as well as another pattern to the rebuttals by the victims. Is he the only prophet in the country? Why is he the only prophet facing such allegations? And why are all the victims withdrawing the allegations similarly? These are issues that we are seized with and worried about,” said Ms Mumbire.
She added that there would come a time when it should be necessary to name and shame those who might have been complicit in covering for Magaya, especially journalists, as they are supposed to be watchdogs of society.
Answering on whether Prophet Magaya is a victim of an extortion plot involving some of his bitter former congregants and journalists, Musasa Project director Netty Musanhu said the general populace must desist from vilifying women who speak out against sexual violence.
“It is highly regrettable that society thinks every sexual abuse case that is reported is an issue of extortion. Not all women are looking for money, one should wonder why the cases are only circulating around Magaya. Why him? So, let us stop denigrating women and subject these issues to an inquiry,” she said.
Mumbire added that such labelling of women as villains could possibly be driving some victims away from coming out in the open.
“We are aware some victims might be afraid to come out, because of such labels or even societal or family pressures, the reason we will provide psycho-social counselling and security to those who will come out. We have also opened a bulk SMS platform and a toll-free number so that we have as many victims come forward.”
Meanwhile, The Sunday Mail Editor, Victoria Ruzvidzo, who was accused by one alleged victim Sarah Maruta of unwittingly dragging her into an extortion plot against Magaya, said that she was approached by emissaries of the prophet, offering her US$1 000 to drop the story of Sarah and Charity Dlodlo, who claimed that the PHD founder abused them sexually.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police, equally accused of working in cahoots with Prophet Magaya and protecting him from the litany of sexual allegations, has come out blazing guns on the claims.
In a statement issued last week, police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police is committed to bringing culprits to justice provided they receive consistent and reliable evidence.
“In the issue of Charity Dlodlo and Sarah Maruta, we have checked with the named stations and there are no records to show that any such charges were brought before the police.
And what has been disturbing with these accusations, is that when the police were ready to pounce, the victims would turn around and say they never made such allegations.
This makes the work of the police difficult, especially that such allegations involve adults. It would have been a different case were minors involved. For the justice delivery system to work, we need consistent and reliable witnesses, who will not turn around and say otherwise,” said the police spokesperson.
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