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At least 29 people have been arrested in Harare, in one week, for committing various sexually-related offences. The suspects were arrested under an operation code-named — “Munhukadzi Ngwarira Kusashandiswa”, being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Women’s Network.
Some of the suspects were on the police’s most wanted list.
Police said the operation began last Friday and it is expected to end on Saturday.
CID spokesperson Detective Inspector Ntombizodwa Chiduwuro said that the operation was to run concurrently with the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence to campaign against women abuse.
“This was prompted by the increase in the number of cases of sexual abuse perpetrated against women and children, she said.
“The CID Women’s Network has since realised that some of the women fall prey to human trafficking on the pretext that they will get employed in foreign countries, but are later used as cheap labour.”
Detective Insp Chiduwuro said other women fell prey to drug traffickers.
Detective Insp Chiduwuro said the Women’s Network saw it fit to capitalise on the annual campaign against Gender-Based Violence through educational campaigns to conscientise the public on crimes against women and children — among them drug trafficking, human trafficking and sexual assault.
“The network is visiting various public places such as schools, flea markets, bus termini and churches,” said Detective Insp Chiduwuro.
Increasing cases of rape in Harare are giving authorities a headache, with 667 women and girls having been raped in the last 10 months.
Of the figure — 334 were adults and the remainder being children and juveniles.
The women were raped while walking alone in secluded areas, while children were raped mostly by relatives and neighbours.
Police recently said more than 70 percent of reported cases of sexual abuse of girls below the ages of 16 are perpetrated by relatives, guardians and neighbours of the victims.
Online Reporter