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Danisa Masuku
CHIEFS in Binga have raised concern on the number of under-age marriages and rape cases that go unreported or unnoticed.
This came out at a meeting last week in Tyunga ward, Binga organised by Basilwizi Trust.
Three chiefs, namely Simupa, Sinakatenge and Simwenda, community members, teachers and police officers attended the meeting.
Chief Sinakatenge was the first to openly raise his concern.
a�?Therea��s a growing and worrying trend that has become part and parcel of this community. Most parents encourage their children to get married soon after finishing Grade Seven. Due to that, they forgo their educational ambitions and become house wives,a�? he said.
Most communities in Binga are poverty stricken and parents marry off the girl child for financial gain and cattle.
a�?Most parents find solace in marrying off the girl child because they would benefit when the son-in law pays bride price,a�? Chief Simupa added his voice.
Chief Simupa said usually when the girl child was impregnated, a parent would force her to go and live with the man responsible for the pregnancy.
a�?I have handled some cases where parents of rape victims complain thatA� when they report cases of rape to the village head such matters are usually swept under the carpet as the village heads demand a bribe in the form of a cow or money,a�? he said.
On average, Chief Sinakatenge handles four or five such cases per month and the worrying trend is that parents later withdraw the cases because of fear of causing divisions in the family structure.
For Chief Simwenda, his main problem was that his area is far from the police station.
a�?The only police station that serves us is in Siabuwa which is 36km away. Ita��s difficult to reach it because of the poor state of the roads, as a result rape cases die a natural death. When a community member reports a matter to the police, officers will say they dona��t have transport. The problem is worsened by non-availability of a reliable communication network,a�? he said.
Chief Simwenda made a passionate plea to police investigators to be more vigilant and serious.
a�?Ia��m appealing to police authorities in the district to root out the perpetrators of rape, maybe this problem could be done away with,a�? he said.
A teacher, Sylvia Munkuli said they played their part in identifying these criminal acts.
a�?At times we notice the unbecoming behaviour of the girl child and know that therea��s something wrong. Some of the children disclose that their parents warned them not to tell anyone about the rape ordeal since it would have been perpetrated by an uncle or a close relative,a�? she said.
Basilwizi Trust resolved to educate parents on such ills.
Online Reporter