Rapists are in for a surprise in the tiny Southern African mountain Kingdom of Swaziland - they risk losing their penises and tongues following new 'bite-it-off' self-defence tactics employed by their victims.

Two rapists have been on the receiving end of this unusual tactic following a recent workshop organised by the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA), where women were taught to try and trick rapists before sinking their teeth into them.

Nonhlanhla Dlamini, programme manager for the group, which is based in Manzini City south-east of Mbabane, is excited about the outcome.

"At least it has now dawned on our women that they needn't look any further for self-defence weapons because they are armed with God-given weapons. It's high time that women used these natural self-defence weapons in their bodies including the teeth to protect themselves against these inhumane rapists," says Dlamini.

A 40 year-old woman from Nkoyoyo, north of Mbabane, recounts how she bit off the penis of her 25 year-old attacker in May.

The woman, who prefers not to be named, was attacked on her way home. The rapist pummelled her with fists on the face to overpower her. She then pretended to enjoy the act, encouraging her attacker to drop his guard.

"I then grabbed his private parts and sank my teeth into his penis. I don't know what happened thereafter as my shirt was soaked with blood," she recalls.

As soon as the rapist let her off, the woman rushed to report him to the Mbabane Police Station.

"When he was arrested, he was crying hysterically with pain. He even asked the police to arrest me for biting off his penis. They rushed him to the Mbabane Government Hospital for treatment," she says.

In another incident in the Shiselweni region south of Mbabane, Sarah Tsabedze saved herself by biting off the tongue of her alleged attacker, Mandla Lukhele. According to Tsabedze, Lukhele pounced on her in her home yard one evening, and tried to kiss her.

"It was my only chance to sink my teeth into the man's tongue, cutting it into two. Feeling the sting of the teeth, the man sprang up and ran for his dear life," says Tsabedze.

He was arrested the following day at the Hlathikhulu Government Hospital, after police called all hospitals in the region asking them to look out for a man with a "half tongue".

But Tsabedze's ordeal didn't end there.

Swaziland Royal Police spokesman, Vusi Masuku, issued a stern warning to the press not to report such cases because they can end up hurting the complainants. He gave the example of Sarah Tsabedze, who has now become a victim of domestic violence - the target of her suspicious husband.

"Her husband, who is working in South Africa, is angry with this poor woman because she did not get a chance to explain her side of the story." She has now been thrown out of her home.

There were 3,534 rapes reported in 2001, according to statistics released by SWAGAA. This is just the tip of the iceberg, they say, as many rape cases go unreported by victims who fear for their lives, or who are offered money in return for withdrawing charges.

However, Frieda Taneon of Rape Crisis in South Africa, which offers counselling to rape survivors, condemns the use of biting as self-defence.

"Our underlying message is to not use violence because it can unleash more violence. The cruelty of rape is such that if you bite somebody, he may harm you more."

In March this year, angry legislators called on the minister for justice and constitutional affairs, Chief Maweni Simelane, to draft a Bill, seeking either the death penalty or castration for anyone convicted of rape.

The majority of senators are backing the proposed Bill.

"Raping someone is more like murder. Thus, if anyone is convicted of the charge he must be given an equivalent sentence," said senator Rev Abednigo Dlamini, the main mover behind the Bill.

Dlamini also wants to make it a crime for anyone to conceal information about rape.

Another senator, Masalekhaya Simelane, said castration would address the crime of rape at its source. He also decried the fact that rapists often do not face justice because it is very common for them to approach the family of the victim and offer a bribe to entice them to withdraw the case.

The legislators have vowed to defy any pressure in their determination to pass this law.

Angry senator Thab'sile Mavimbela blames lenient laws for not taking rape seriously - even policemen have committed rape.

The proposed Bill does have its opponents. The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions and the Human Rights Association of Swaziland have condemned it. They say the government should produce an internationally acceptable and humane law to punish rapists.

Taneon of Rape Crisis says castration will not work as a punishment. "People who promote castration are missing the point, because rape is less a sexual deed than one of power and violence. If a rapist wants to hurt a woman he will, and if he doesn't have a penis he will use something else."

"Preventing rape is much bigger than throwing people in jail," Taneon adds. "Where people have low self respect for themselves and others, and feel powerless where they are, it breeds things like rape."

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