Socio- spiritual approaches towards rehabilitation of the victims of sexual molestation in Zimbabwe: An African pastoral care perspective

Abstract

Sexual molestation is a common phenomenon in communities globally, particularly in situations of family disintegration and periods of political violence and economic instability that cause migration and displacement. Molestation comes in various forms including sexual harassment, fondling, oral-genital contact, penetration and intercourse which is dehumanizing. This causes the victims to suffer physical, psychological and spiritual problems. Therefore, there is a need to provide a holistic pastoral care approaches that address the problems resulting from molestation. This paper seeks to explore ways in which the victims of sexual molestation in Zimbabwe may be healed spiritually and psychologically and their dignity be restored. It will begin by discussing the challenges that arise due to sexual molestation and propose some pastoral care approaches that promote holistic healing and restoration of the victims. The paper utilizes the theoretical framework of the ubuntu theology of the Nobel laureate the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. His theory helps in the understanding of the role of pastoral care for the victims of sexual molestation in the Zimbabwean context. This is a non-empirical research based on analysing secondary sources of data through a desk-top study approach. The paper contributes to insights on how ubuntu-informed pastoral care practices can promote the restoration of the dignity of the victims of sexual molestation.