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Ruth Butaumocho Gender Editor
Zimbabwe has cleared its backlog of sexual violence and abuse cases against children in all the country’s courts following the commissioning of five extra victim friendly centres across its judicial regions this year. The national chairman of the Victim Friendly System Mr Mishrod Guvamombe, said the five new centres — in addition to 17 existing victim friendly units — resulted in clearing sexual violence and abuse cases that were before the courts.
From January to date, 3 400 cases of sexual violence and related cases went through the country’s courts.
Of these, 3 303 cases involved alleged abuse of girls and 175 were of alleged abuse of boys.
“As we speak the current cases of sexual violence and abuse are probably with the police, who may still be carrying investigations on different cases, before the documents are brought to our attention to peruse.
“Once we get the documents of cases that need to go to the courts, it does not take us three days to clear the cases.
“The setting up of the victim friendly centres, aided with the establishment of a protocol to strengthen the multi-sectoral management of sexual violence and abuse, is actually acting as a catalyst in speeding up the cases, something that was not possible a few years ago,” he said.
The protocol, to which several ministries are stakeholders, promotes a co-ordinated and integrated approach to sexual violence and abuse.
It also reinforces this responsibility by outlying the principles that guide responses to sexual violence and abuse and setting out the roles and responsibilities of children, adults, professionals, communities and various organisations involved, including the media.
Mr Guvamombe, who is also the country’s Chief Magistrate, added that the country did not have too few victim friendly courts when compared to places like Lesotho and Malawi.
He said there were adequate victim friendly units at each regional court, where cases of sexual violence and abuse are tried.
“Making such a comparative analysis is like comparing apples and oranges, because there are several variables that determine the setting up of victim friendly courts in different countries.
“For instance, in Zimbabwe divorce cases are done at the High Court, and yet in some other countries they may be executed at lower courts like the magistrates’ courts, depending on each nation’s legal system.
“Our victim friendly units are adequate. We have one at each regional court, which are adequately equipped to assist our victims, who are usually children” he said.
The victim friendly units were set up in 1997 following the amendment of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
The idea is to support victims of sexual violence and abuse to pursue their right to access specialised health, justice, welfare and other services.
Online Reporter