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Abstract

Africa, like any other society, embodies moral responsibilities that govern the way society is to be ruled. These morals, which are embedded in people’s belief systems and worldviews, are transmitted from generation to generation. The gendered nature of these morals can be reflected in the way women and girls are protected and respected in their communities. Since the holistic mothering roles of women are viewed as the highest order of society, heinous crimes like violating a woman are seen as taboo in that society. Among the Tonga people of Zambia, where this study is located, raping or beating a woman is considered inhuman, and those men who are involved in such acts are brought before the chiefs to receive punishment from their fellow men. In some cases, such perpetrators not only receive physical disciplining, but also are meant to pay the family of the girl a prescribed number of cows as compensation for their crimes. Later, they also need to participate in a ritual of cleansing to purify the community. Therefore, the concept of “protecting women” is perceived as a form of moral responsibility by the community. This paper aims to reflect on how the weakening of this glorious cultural tradition has left many women and girls exposed to all forms of abuse. The paper will use the narrative approach as its methodology, while feminist cultural hermeneutics and the community’s moral responsibilities will be used as the two theoretical frameworks of the research.

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