malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
In a disturbing trend of sexual offences, at least 2,736 cases of sexual violence were recorded in just three months across the country with men constituting the majority of perpetrators, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) has reported.
Zimstat’s official crime statistics indicate that crimes of a sexual nature, coupled with a rise in intimate partner violence and gender-based violence (GBV), remain prevalent in the country.
Giving an update on the crime and prison admissions, Zimstat social statistics manager Mr Tinashe Mwadiwa said domestic violence among theft, burglary, robbery and assault contributed to the highest number of criminal offences recorded in the third quarter.
“There were 2,736 cases of sexual violence recorded in the third quarter of 2023, representing a crime rate of 18 per 100,000 people,” said Mwadiwa.
The data reveals that rape remains a significant concern, with a total of 712 rape crimes recorded in the third quarter. Of these cases, 704 were attributed to male perpetrators, while women accounted for only eight offences.
Additionally, domestic violence cases reached 830, with males accounting for 94 cases and women for 36 cases.
According to Zimstat’s data on crimes and prison admissions for the Third Quarter of 2023, the national crime rate reached 1,201.8 crimes per 100,000 people, showing an increase from 1,172.9 per 100,000 recorded in the second quarter.
A total of 182,427 offences were reported between July and September 2023, indicating a 2.5 percent rise from the 178,031 offences recorded in the previous quarter.
Bongani Ndlovu