Elderly women protest naked in Mashonaland

Two elderly women in Mashonaland staged a naked protest over an unresolved land dispute, highlighting gaps in rural land governance and sparking renewed calls for quicker dispute resolution (image source)

Two women identified in local reports as Gogo Anna Chick and Cecilia Chiremba removed their clothes in public to protest what they say is the encroachment of their residential stand by neighbour Bonface Nyangombe. The matter is reportedly before Chief Seke but remains unresolved, prompting the dramatic demonstration at the village level.

The incident unfolded in a rural setting in Mashonaland, where land ownership is often contested and customary dispute mechanisms are the first port of call. Village sources told reporters the women staged the protest after attempts to secure a ruling from the local leadership and council offices failed to halt the alleged expansion of the neighbouring stand. The demonstration attracted neighbours and local councillors, and no arrests were reported in initial accounts.

Local customary authorities and the Manyame Rural District Council are named in community accounts as having been involved in the paperwork and adjudication process. Residents allege that some council employees may have issued documents that complicated the ownership claims, prompting Gogo Chiremba to obtain her own proof of title before the protest, according to local reporting.

Observers say the naked protest should be read in the context of a long tradition across southern Africa where public undressing is used as a form of moral censure and political expression, a tactic that aims to shame perceived wrongdoers and force rapid attention to grievances. One commentator has written that these protests are not just acts of desperation or shock tactics, noting their emotional and symbolic power in rural and urban settings alike.

Legal and social-welfare experts caution that while such demonstrations draw attention, they also expose vulnerable protesters to stigma and potential exploitation. Human-rights advocates say authorities should treat the underlying land dispute as a civil matter requiring transparent investigation, mediation and, where necessary, formal legal remedies to prevent escalation and protect the dignity of elderly residents.

The episode highlights broader governance gaps in rural land administration: delays in customary courts, contested documentation and limited access to formal legal channels can leave elderly landholders with few options beyond public protest. Community leaders told reporters they will reconvene customary hearings and seek to verify title documents to resolve the matter locally. Residents said they expect the chief to mediate within statutory and customary frameworks.

The protest has prompted renewed calls for clearer, faster dispute resolution at ward and district level and for targeted support to elderly landholders who lack the resources to pursue protracted claims. Local officials have not yet issued a formal statement beyond confirming that the matter is under consideration by Chief Seke’s court.