Rutendo Matinyarare was recently a trending topic after his interview with Leanne Manas on SABC News

The SABC News anchor asked Zimbabwean anti-sanctions activist Rutendo Matinyarare why he does not move back to the country if he believes there is so much fortune. The video of the moment caused the a lot of buzz as many agreed with Leanne Manas.

Ntsiki Mazwai was one of the dissenting voices who defended Rutendo Matinyarare, saying that on the basis of race, Leanne had no right to tell an African to go back to his home country. Amid the fuss, Rutendo Matinyarare recently stated his controversial stance on the age of consent while defending a video of him discussing 16 year old girls as sexually viable. Netizens question why popular poet and feminist activist Ntsiki Mazwai would come to his defence.

Rutendo Matinyarare admits to sexual relationship with teens

Zimbabwean anti-sanctions activist Rutendo Matinyarare’s clash with Leanne on SABC News has descended into accusations of pedophilia. When Ntsiki Mazwai sided with Rutendo it made netizens bring up a video where he has expressed that his “preference in women has always been weird” including “helpers”, “women from the village” and he is “passionate about prostitutes”. In the video, he detailed that he was sexually abused as a child by a nanny. He connected his “preferences” to his trauma saying he has not been able to refuse sexual advances even when he knows he should. He said:

“I have been seduced by 16 year olds…when you are supposed to say no, I failed to say ‘no’.”

SA labels Rutendo Matinyarare a pedophile

Many people found the video of Rutendo’s admissions disturbing. In recent tweets, the Zimbabwean activist cited the Sexual Offences Act to say he has never done anything illegal. Rutendo Matinyarare argues that because the law limits the offense of pedophilia to children under 16, he has not doing anything illegal.

Rutendo insisted that the law dictates that anyone who is 16 years old or older has freedom to choose their sexual partner by law. He also shut down any moral concerns about the law. However Rutendo’s video where he discusses his past of sexual abuse, he says “I have been seduced by people I was supposed to say no to” and “when you are supposed to say no, I failed to said no, I have been there and it makes me wonder what, what happened to me as a young man did to me.” His statements imply that he realises there is something morally reprehensible about sexual relations with a teen(s).

Rutendo also argued he is no pedophile and he is right, in the video he describes 16 year old girls as those who have “just grown into maturity”, which is defined as ephebophilia, a sexual preference for late stage adolescents from 15-19. For example, one could argue that R Kelly is colloquially referred to as a pedophile but he is technically an ephebophile.

@dollyfelicity said:

“You need serious on going therapy, you are sick and I pray you find help.”

@Designflows21 declared:

“You are the new face of pedophilia congratulations.”

@Sisi_Sasha asked:

“If sleeping with a dog was legal, you’d be ok with doing that too? This is a morality issue, stop throwing the law book at people who are genuinely concerned by this behaviour. And in all honesty? seek therapy.”

@GrootRoot41368 was unimpressed:

“Morally bankrupt.”

Andrianto_World tweeted:

“R.Kelly wa Zim.”

Ntsiki under fire for defending Rutendo Matinyarare

Initially Ntsiki doubted those who called Rutendo a predator, arguing that it could be defamation by white people out to destroy him. Read the post:

Ntsiki later countered against that the law is meant to apply to people within the same age and not with predators. Rutendo responded saying that the law is final and doesn’t care about her feelings.

Even with the age of consent in South Africa is 16, many people still find wrongdoing when adult men pursue teenage girls. Netizens expressed their disapproval or social media, especially with Ntsiki.

@ApheleleJody said:

“Fake feminists like Ntsiki Mazwai are so annoying. Don’t call yourself a feminist if there is a limit of people you can’t hold accountable.”

@Its_Lifestyle7 wrote:

“According to Ntsiki Mazwai, underage girls have to be impregnated as evidence for them to prove that they’ve been victims of any molestation.”