“Open your eyes and read, Tarime is not a safe place for women and girls”

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On the night of 18 April 2008,  in Tarime district, Mara Region of Tanzania,  Mr. Mwita Thomas Mrimi severely injured a 15 year old girl (Robhi Thomas), who had both of ears cut off and pieces thrown to a dog to eat, and damaging her shoulders and fingers.  Mr. Mwita is Robhi’s father-in-law. What is even more shocking is the fact that the girl was an innocent victim of a dispute between her mother and father –in-law, who allegedly committed the heinous crime in retaliation for “humiliation” he had suffered at the hands of her parents. The girl is now nursing ghastly injures at Tarime District Hospital.  

 Robhi Thomas encountered a horrific form of gender based violence. This, however, was not the first act of violence.  The marriage itself was an act of violence against Robhi. Robhi’s father forced her to marry at a young age in order to receive a dowry of 350,000TSH for her. Robhi’s husband, Thomas Mwita, aged 18, also was forced into the marriage by his father. 

 On that night in April, Mr. Mwita Thomas Mrimi ordered his son to tie up Robhi. He explained that he was enacting revenge on Robhi and her mother. 

 Following the incidence, Kivulini Women's Rights Organization, in collaboration with SHEHABITA, organized a public rally on 9 May, 2008 to break the silence surrounding violence against women in Tarime and to encourage people to unite to end the violence.  In his address, Hon. Chacha Wangwe (MP, Tarime) questioned, “Where is it justified in Kurya traditional customs that violence against women (VAW) is a Kurya practice? VAW is not our traditional practice, and all efforts should be done to end it now.”

Click here to view Robhi's pictures 

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Join school teachers, community activists, and school children August 2008 as they launch a campaign to make Tarime a safe place for women and girls. Donations are also welcome either to support Robhi or campaign activities.

Contact;

Mr. Yassin Ally,

Programme Manager, Policy Advocacy

Kivulini Women’s Rights Organisation

PO Box 11348

Baganda Street

Mwanza Tanzania

Tel +255 (0) 28 2500961; Fax: +255 (0) 28 2540928; Cell phone + 255 754 765 423

Email: admin@kivulini.org