Factors affecting perceptions of Zimbabwean higher education students towards acquaintance rape
Tafirei, Phinias
This study assessed factors affecting perceptions of Zimbabwean higher education students
towards acquaintance rape in Masvingo Province. The study serves as a precursor to unearth a
hidden crime (acquaintance rape) which is quite rampant in institutions of higher education in
Masvingo Province and the world over. The researcher used a positivist paradigm and mixed
methods research approach. The descriptive survey design was also employed in the study. To
collect data from participants, a self-constructed questionnaire was used. The demographic data
for this study consisted of all students randomly chosen from three institutions of higher education
in Masvingo Province. The sample for this study was 63 participants made up of 3 principals (1
male and 2 females), 3 vice principals (1 male and 2 females), 3 hostel wardens (1 male and 2
females), 3 assistant hostel wardens (1 male and 2 females), 3 disciplinary chairpersons (1 male 2
females), 3 nursing sisters (1 male and 2 females) and 45 students (12 males and 33 females) in
higher education institutions in Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe. Qualitative data was
descriptively analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Version 16.0. The
calculated Chi-Square tests were also computed. Frequency tables were constructed to indicate
the relative rating of each research item. The study revealed that culture, gender, peer pressure and
policy as well as legislation or law affect higher education students’ perceptions of acquaintance
rape. Students’ interaction and socialisation are based on their perceptions of cultural practices,
peer pressure, gender stereotypes or law which are the main reasons why they have negative views
on acquaintance rape. The study also established that college authorities, non-academic staff and
students have inadequate knowledge on how to effectively manage or deal with acquaintance rape
cases due to lack of policies, legislations or laws governing students’ behaviour in higher
education. A model to reduce acquaintance rape was proposed. The study recommended that all institutions of higher education in Masvingo Province should introduce acquaintance rape
prevention and reduction programmes, peer education programmes, and acquaintance rape
awareness campaigns in the curriculum.
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