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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko has called for the castration of rapists saying it was shameful that grown men were sexually abusing vulnerable women and children.
Speaking at a rally addressed by the First Lady, Cde Grace Mugabe in Masvingo yesterday, VP Mphoko outlined “preferred” sentences for sex offenders.
“Men who rape infants and children under the age of 15 should be castrated,” he said to a thunderous applause.
“Those who rape 16 year olds to 65 year olds must be slapped with life sentence while those who rape adults over the age of 65 must also be castrated as these are the most vulnerable.”
He said rape was a serious crime that warranted deterrent sentences.
“This is serious. You will see a grown man weighing 110 kg heavily panting on a child whose is 16 years of age. All these people must be castrated. That’s the only way forward,” he said.
President Mugabe has previously called for the castration penalty on rapists.
Gender activists have also called on the government to impose more deterrent sentences on rapists.
Matabeleland South proportional representation MP Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said rapists must be exterminated from society.
“It’s encouraging that men in positions of power have heeded our calls for more deterrent sentences. Before we even think of castrating them why is it so difficult for us to impose life sentences on rapists?” asked Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
Life imprisonment, she said, was the only deterrent sentence for rapists.
Misihairabwi-Mushonga said a sexual offender can continue abusing women even after castration.
“They need to be sentenced to life in prison so that they will never abuse women again. If they are only castrated they can come up with ways to abuse women. Let’s get them completely out of the system,” she said.
Rape cases are increasingly becoming common, including those of men raping their children, some as young as 11 months.
Bulawayo police last month arrested a 63-year-old HIV positive man from Emakhandeni who raped his 16-year-old granddaughter.
The sickening attack was captured on the teenager’s cellphone. Bulawayo magistrate Mark Dzira jailed the man for an effective 16 years.
In another case, a Mberengwa man was on Tuesday sentenced to 24 years in prison for raping his 11-year-old daughter on several occasions.
The man would abuse the minor and use leaves to wipe her privates afterwards.
A Tsholotsho man, 18, was on Tuesday arrested after he allegedly raped his biological sister, 9, for more than five years.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo