adminGwanda Correspondent
COURTS are facing challenges in dealing with the deaf and dumb witnesses as most of them use informal sign language, an official has said.
The Matabeleland South Provincial chairperson of the Victim Friendly System Committee, Joseph Mabeza who is also Gwanda regional magistrate, said this during a visit by the Danish International Development Agency (Danida) Grant Committee to the Victim Friendly Clinic in Gwanda Town last Friday.
He said the courts experienced difficulties in getting evidence from some deaf and dumb witnesses since most of them could not communicate using formal sign language.
“Some of the witnesses have never been to school and they use informal sign language whereas our sign language interpreters who assist us at the courts use formal sign language,” said Mabeza.
The regional court in Gwanda has dealt with several cases of deaf and dumb individuals alleged to have been raped.
“Most of our personnel within the Victim Friendly System aren’t trained to handle cases of such complaints though JSC has engaged Leonard Cheshire Zimbabwe Trust,” he said.
The courts also faced challenges of accommodating witnesses coming from far away places.
The VFC recorded 176 cases of sexual abuse from November 2012 to September 2013.
Of the 176 cases, 129 cases of sexual abuse involved children below 15 years.
Minors aged between Six and 15 years constituted the majority of cases with 118 cases reported. A total of 13 of these abused minors fell pregnant.
“It’s disheartening that during the period from November 2012 to September 2013 we recorded a total of 176 cases of sexual abuse. This roughly translates to an average of eight cases per month.
“This is for those cases that are reported, keeping in mind some cases go unreported. We’re therefore calling on everyone to join the fight against sexual abuse,” said Gwanda Provincial Hospital medical superintendent, Dr Pugie Tawanda Chimberengwa.
Online Reporter