Cultural Predicaments: Cultural Norms, Power and Control in Addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Rural Domains in Zimbabwe

Drawing on fieldwork in three rural districts — Hurungwe, Mutasa and Umzingwane — this research paper examines how cultural beliefs, practices and societal norms mediate the resolution of sexual and gender-based violence within families and informal justice institutions. Using Sally Engle Merry's concept of "translation," the paper argues that local cultural contexts shape how legal interventions are interpreted and applied, often producing outcomes that undermine justice for women and girls. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews over eight months. The research finds that informal justice mechanisms, while accessible and affordable, are rooted in patriarchy and perpetuate silence around SGBV.

• Community members prefer informal justice institutions for SGBV disputes because they are affordable, accessible and conducted in familiar cultural settings.
• Patriarchal attitudes dominate informal justice proceedings, consistently disadvantaging women and girls who seek redress.
• Cultural practices such as labia elongation, virginity testing and chinamwari sexual education are framed as normal, creating environments where bodily autonomy is denied.
• Marital rape is widely normalised; perpetrators face little social or legal sanction within informal systems.
• Persons with disabilities and minors face compounded barriers — their cases are frequently dismissed, concealed or not competently presented due to discrimination and communication barriers.
• Kinship ties within informal adjudication platforms create bias, silencing victims in favour of family cohesion and perpetrators' interests.

• Address SGBV and harmful practices through community participation, not legal and policy change alone.
• Reform traditional justice legislation to incorporate gender-sensitive substantive standards.
• Invest in rights education targeting young women and girls before cultural indoctrination becomes entrenched.
• Develop specific protections and communication accommodations within the informal justice system for persons with disabilities.
• Establish monitoring frameworks that track outcomes for women, girls and vulnerable groups in informal courts.