By CHILA NAMAIKO –

A CROSS-SECTION of society has condemned a group of men who were filmed beating and sexually molesting a woman in a video clip which has gone viral on social media.
In the video, a man alleged to be the boyfriend is seen beating the unknown woman who seems unconscious and later other men strip her naked and insert objects in her private parts.
In expressing displeasure over the continued violation of women through social media, the Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) yesterday presented a petition to the Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja at his office.
NGOCC director Engwase Mwale also demanded that the Zambia Information Communication Authority (ZICTA) be engaged to help identify the culprits in the video.
“The incident is highly abusive and the highest form of indignity against women. As the women’s movement, we feel insulted in the manner our fellow woman was being abused and brutalised,” she said.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Sweden Edith Mutale described as inhuman the beating and sexual molestation of the woman.
Reverend Mutale said in a separate statement that she was heartbroken over the barbaric act by the woman’s assailants.
Zambia National Women’s Lobby chairperson Beauty Katebe was appalled by the behaviour of the men and that their action constituted a gross violation of human rights which should not be tolerated in Zambia.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga assured the women’s movement and the nation that investigations had intensified in the matter.
He said police were carrying out investigations in Kafue where the incident happened and some people had already been interviewed in connection with the sexual abuse of the woman.