Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon Sithembiso Nyoni reviewed that 58% of the rape cases that were reported involved minors
Speaking at the official launch of National 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence on Women and Children at Maramba Primary School in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe District on the 25th of November 2022
“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% involved minors,”
“We cannot progress as a nation if we continue to ignore such behaviours that deprive children of the future that they deserve. I also wish to highlight here that these cases are an indication of a much bigger rot because most of the cases go unreported,” Hon Nyoni said.
A total of 959 sexual violence cases and 1 038 domestic violence cases were reported during the same period
She went on to lament the rise in cases of minors being impregnated.
“The recent spike in child sexual abuse cases, some of which result in minors falling pregnant and then dying while giving birth is disturbing. 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,” she added
The issue of children’s rights, especially girls’ rights, has recently been in the spotlight. When two of her 9-year-old minors from different communities in the country became pregnant after one rape incident and another confirmed as a result of her two sexual acts. A 13-year-old cousin who is underage.
Similarly, a 13-year-old girl in Chitungwiza is also three months pregnant after being recently raped.e
