Five Years After Losing An Eye To Abusive Partner, Josina Machel Appeals Judgement That Acquits Her Violator

In a bold move, Josina Machel, who was assaulted and blinded on one eye has appealed the Mozambican Superior Court of Appeals’ judgement, which reversed an earlier conviction of her former partner, who had confessed to the crime.

Machel, who is the daughter of Graça Machel, and Samora Machel, the first President of Mozambique; and stepdaughter to freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela was violently attacked by her then partner Rufino Licuco in October 2015.

A protracted legal battle saw Licuco being convicted in February 2017 and eventually being jailed for three months in the same year.

“I had placed my trust in the Mozambican justice system, for five years, waiting for justice to turn its blind eyes to my gender and convict this man of the crime he has already confessed to. Yet, along with all the women who have joined me in waiting through the years, I have been let down once again”, says Machel.

“Let me state unequivocally that I do not accept this judgment overturning Rofino Licuco’s conviction for domestic violence and completely acquitting him. This is not only a let-down for me, but it is creating a dangerous precedent for all women seeking to get legal retribution against those who violate them”.

Machel says this has strengthened and empowered her to continue the battle for justice, truth, and dignity, not only for herself but for all women. She is calling for Justice4Josina and Justice4AllWomen.

“The judgement will not set the dangerous precedent that my aggressor and his institutional enablers intend to, a situation all too familiar for women across the African continent. We are going to fight this. There must justice for all women.

Speaking on violence against women, Conglomerations of women in Africa in a statement noted that 2020 has been a year of unprecedented happenings-from a health crisis; to a global paradigm shift in the racism conversation; and increasingly louder voices lent to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence activism.

In Africa especially, we are constantly battling long-held perceptions about female sex and witness every day how this translates to unimaginable levels of violence against this gender. The story is no different in Mozambique, where Josina Machel lost an eye to her abusive partner and is still demanding justice five years later.

We have seen that SGBV is no respecter of persons, class, education or age going by the headlines that plague us every day-Uwa, Barakat, Busola, Tina, Seyitan and many others who will never be known. Josina is the daughter of Graca and Samora Machel, the first Mozambican president, as well as the stepdaughter of freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela. Yet, she has been unable to get the justice she deserves.