Transgender woman kidnapped and sexually abused in Zimbabwe

A transgender woman in Zimbabwe who was kidnapped late last month has been found alive.

Chayelle Cathro, a missing persons investigator, said Sunflower Sibanda was last seen on June 28 with an unknown assailant at the Eclipse nightclub in Harare, the country’s capital.

Sibanda, who lives in Bulawayo, the country’s second-largest city about 462 kilometers from Harare, had reserved an Airbnb in the capital’s Avonlea district before her visit to the club.

“Sunflower was last seen by multiple confirmed sources at the Eclipse Club downtown,” Cathro said. “She left the club with an unknown man who allegedly took her to her reserved Airbnb in Avonlea. However, the Airbnb hosts confirmed that she never checked in.”

Cathro said two of Sibanda’s friends began searching for her on June 29 “when she failed to show up for an event she was supposed to attend.” They looked for her at the Airbnb and then went to the police station and the nightclub, “where the guards confirmed there had been no unusual activity the previous night.”

Their search ended at Parirenyatwa Hospital, “where they checked the emergency department, resuscitation and specialist services.”

Sibanda was abandoned in a remote area along Bulawayo Road in the Harare suburb of Norton on July 3. She then walked 29 miles to the offices of GALZ (an association of LGBTI people in Zimbabwe), where she spent the night, according to a press release from her family.

“She never checked in as she was kidnapped, taken advantage of and left in a remote area after a night out with friends,” her family said. “She was kidnapped by someone who claimed he was taking her to Airbnb while drunk. Instead of taking her home, he robbed her and sexually abused her.”

“Sunflower is receiving support and assistance from her loved ones during this difficult time and has already received medical attention,” her family added. “We will respect her privacy while continuing her road to recovery and wish her all the best for the future. It has been a very difficult time for everyone but we are all relieved to have her back home.”

Zimbabwean human rights activist Samuel Matsikure said it was a great relief that Sibanda had been found.

“As a citizen and someone I have come to love, I am overwhelmed by the response of the country and the world,” Matsikure said.

Sibanda’s friend, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed Matsikure’s sentiments.

“I am incredibly relieved and grateful to report that Sunflower has been found and is safe. I know many of you have questions about how, where and with whom she was found and I understand the concern and curiosity,” the friend said. “However, the most important thing right now is that she is in safe hands.”

“I invite everyone to continue to support her during her recovery,” they added. “Rest assured, all necessary information will be shared in due course.”

Section 73 of the Penal Code (Codification and Reform) of Zimbabwe on sexual crimes and crimes against morality states: “Any man who, with the consent of another man, knowingly performs anal intercourse or any other act involving physical contact other than anal intercourse which would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act, is guilty of sodomy and may be punished with a fine, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with both.”

Discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity are still commonplace in Zimbabwe.

Last month, some people stormed the offices of GALZ and sprayed homophobic graffiti on the walls. The attackers also uttered homophobic slurs.