adminTendai Gukutikwa
Lenient sentences passed on convicted rapists by presiding officers are very disturbing and have been a contributing factor towards the perpetration of rape crimes, the provincial development officer, Ms Chido Madiwa Tsinakwadi has said.
Ms Tsinakwadi voiced these sentiments at the provincial launch of the United Nations calendar event of 16 days of Activism against gender based violence held last Thursday at Vhiriri Primary School in Buhera.
The 16 days of activism against gender based violence which are commemorated annually from the 25th of November to the 10th of December this year ran under the theme, “From peace in the home to peace in the community: Let us keep girls in school and end child marriages.”
Tsinakwadi said that the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development was concerned with the rising cases of rape especially of minors.
She said that the lenient sentences that convicted rapists were getting, were a driving force towards more rape cases and that the ministry is currently on its way to submit a befitting proposal before the Cabinet.
“The Ministry will soon be tabling a proposal on mandatory sentences for rape before Cabinet.
“The proposal is meant to provide deterrent sentences for rape and we are pushing for minimum mandatory sentences of 30 years for rape and life sentence for child rapists.”
Online Reporter