adminMellisa Sikhosana Sunday News Reporter
THE Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) has expressed concern over the sentencing of a sexual offender to serve community service at Baobab Primary School in Victoria Falls saying it places great risk on learners at the institution.
In a statement on Friday, MIHR said the sentencing of 19-year-old Edmore Sibanda, who was convicted of impregnating a 14-year-old girl, to 310 hours of community service at Baobab Primary School would leave the pupils vulnerable.
MIHR said its concern was mainly on the rights of pupils at the school adding the presence of Sibanda will be a great risk especially to girls of the age 13-14 years attending Grades Six and Seven.
“Our concern is on the fundamental need to protect the rights of the pupils that are enrolled at Baobab Primary School. We feel very strongly that the magistrate erred in sending Sibanda to a primary school considering that he has committed an offence of indulging in sex with a minor and the primary school is a place of habitant of minors, of which some of them especially Grades 6s and 7s are at the age of 13-14 like Sibanda’s victim and have reached puberty stage and may be prey to Sibanda’s sexual desires,” read part of the statement.
MIHR acknowledged that Sibanda did not forcedly rape the victim but cheated the girl because she was not at the age of making sound decisions but having Sibanda serve his punishment at the school will increase the chances of him committing the same sexual offence again on another victim.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter