Minors rape cases shocker

Talent Gore

Speaking at the national commemorations of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (GBV) at Maramba Primary School in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe District on Friday, Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, expressed concern over the spike in child sexual abuse cases.

“Statistics from the police show that during the period of January to September 2022, a total of 435 rape cases were reported and of these, 58 percent involved minors,” she said.

“This figure is too high to be ignored. In addition a total of 959 sexual violence cases and 1 038 domestic violence cases were reported during the same period.

“These are figures of reported cases, but we are fully aware that so many similar cases go unreported all in the name of protecting the family name.”

Minister Nyoni said the recent spike in child sexual abuse, some of which result in minors falling pregnant and then dying while giving birth, is disturbing.

“We have also witnessed very shocking cases of sexual abuse of children,” she said.

“These experiences have pained us, and we need to say a big ‘no’ to gender-based violence to preserve and save human life and the future of our children, especially girls.

“What is more disheartening to note is that in the majority of these cases, parents and guardians who are expected to be protecting these minors, are being found either as perpetrators, or as facilitators of the abuse and even concealing these issues to protect the perpetrators.”