The victims, mostly women, said in Gaborone that they are now seeking psychological and social counselling back home after developing symptoms associated with psychological and mental trauma prevalent among rape and sexual harassment victims.
The women, who did not want to have their named published for fear of jeopardising the outcome of the court case which is due to be brought before the courts for trial later this month, said they are not only stigmatised but also shunned by relatives and friends both in Botswana and Zimbabwe. "Soon after people discovered that I was one of the ladies involved in the forced sex act which was inflicted by the members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and some special constable, my relationship with friends started to diminish," she said.
The woman said that she had become so reclusive that she is now afraid to meet with former friends, colleagues and relatives. Another victim said they are suffering because they even lost the trust of the people who used to give them 'piece jobs.' As a result, it has become 'very difficult to stay in Botswana as fingers continued to be pointed at them as people with decadent morals. The group sex case has raised questions about Botswana's good neighbourliness in Zimbabwe with some parents using the rape case to stop their daughters from venturing into Botswana. However, there are those who understand their problem and empathise with the victims. Botswana Police investigating officers in the case have been friendly, shuttling between Zimbabwe and Botswana, each time the case is about to come before the courts, said the rape victims.
