Sexual abuse cases on vulnerable people on the rise in Zimbabwe

Published: 2013 February 04 23:19:27 (3423 Views)

Rape, murder, emotional, verbal, psychological and economic abuse, intimidation and harassment have largely become synonymous with Zimbabwean elections and women and children in most cases are the victims.

There are fears that it could get worse as the country heads for a referendum and elections this year.

In a report released in December 2012, the Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit said more than 2,400 children under the age of 18 were victims of rape between January and October 2012. There were 3,421 sexual abuse cases of minors reported during that period.

Victim Friendly Court Zimbabwe (VFCZ) national coordinator Iden Magonga said sexual abuse of children was not about satisfying sexual urge but was instead an issue of power over a weaker, vulnerable group.

Magonga said: “Sexual abuse of children is usually committed not for sexual gratification but it’s a power mentality and those who commit this crime are often cowards who cannot face up to their own match, but feel powerful by abusing the vulnerable groups.”

Recently Zimbabwe has seen a series of rapes conducted under the guise of a religious practice and Magonga said his organisation faced problems in dealing with child marriages in the Marange Apostolic sect.

“The Apostolic sect is a closed community that has a culture of not accommodating outsiders. We have had incidences where we would go there, approach a certain family after tip-offs of sexual abuse. However, when we get there and talk to the girl child she would deny ever being raped, instead saying she was being well-looked after; the law is then handicapped.”

According to the Preliminary Report of the National Baseline Survey on the Life Experiences of Adolescents in Zimbabwe released by the government in 2012, approximately one third of girls experience sexual violence before their 18th birthday and only 2% of these seek care and support, while approximately one in 10 males aged between 18-24 experienced sexual abuses in childhood.

Regional Communication Officer for UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Victor Chinyama, said, “We do not know if there is an increase in incidences, as these prevalence surveys are unique, particularly looking at sexual violence amongst children. Statistics also only reflect cases reported. And we know sexual violence is always under-reported due to fear by survivors, due to shame, stigma and persecution.”

The report says neighbours accounted for 41% of perpetrators, while relatives left in care of children were culpable for 27%.

Seven-year-old Mitchell was brutally raped last year by a 45-year old man entrusted to protect her. Mitchell is now incontinent (she has little or no voluntary control over urination or defecation) after the rape left her with a ruptured anus and genitalia which affects the way she excretes.

He said cases of sodomy were worringly on the increase. Early January in Buhera, Manicaland Province, a six-year old boy was sodomised after his family offered shelter to a stranger drenched in the pouring rain. The family allowed him to share a hut with their six-year old son.

A report was made at Murambinda Police Station but before the police could launch their investigation, the man committed suicide. His body was found hanging from a tree the following day. - Relzim

Tags: abuse,

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