By Kucalo reporter
After 13 years of marriage, actress Chungu Chintelelwe, known for her role as Soneka in Mpali, faced a traumatic experience she never imagined—sexual violence at the hands of her own husband.
But when she confronted him about it, he responded with physical assault.
Hoping for support, Chungu turned to her family. Instead, she was told that rape cannot happen within marriage and was advised to report only the physical assault to the police, framing it as a dispute over messages found on her husband’s phone.
For Chungu, the most demeaning part was being told that although many women report marital rape, there is still no specific law that protects victims.
She learned that such cases often collapse because there is no clear legal framework empowering the police to act.
During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Diggers Life spoke with Chungu, who shared her story to highlight how deeply cultural myths and gaps in the law continue to silence survivors.
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Chungu Chintelelwe