Story by Peter Chivhima
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is battling an increase in the number of rape cases involving children, amid calls for a collaborative approach.
Statistics obtained from the NPA indicate that at least 30 rape cases are reported countrywide daily, most of them involving children.
In an interview with the ZBC News in Harare this Monday on the sidelines of a signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding between the NPA and the Legal Resources Foundation, Prosecutor General Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo called for a collaborative approach in protecting children against rape.
“Rapes cases are on the increase countrywide and what is more worrying is that most of the victims are juveniles. At times, victims are being killed so this is disturbing. Juveniles are also committing rape cases.
“We are now calling for parents to protect children against this scourge. Ialso want to assure the nation that bad apples will be weeded out of the system as you know that recently, we made some arrests and their cases are at various stages.”
The NPA is also working with various partners in trying to close gaps in the country’s justice delivery system.
Partners for Justice Chief Party, Mrs Dorcas Makaza said, “Last year, we carried researches throughout the country and we have noticed that there are gaps in our legal system. So, thought its ideal for us to partner with the NPA so that we address the issue. We feel we need to address the issue of corruption in our courts so that the justice delivery system benefits everyone.”
“I am convinced that our partnership with the NPA will bear fruits which shall help in the country’s justice delivery system. We are happy that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NPA before and its bearing fruit. Based on that, we are convinced that this latest signing will help our Prosecutors when it comes to dealing with various issues,” said the Legal Resources Foundation Executive Director, Mrs Valerie Zviuya.
The latest development comes after government took a tough stance against rapists with the new law condemning offenders to a minimum of 15 years behind bars.
Among the recently convicted rapists is Prosper Bhule of Bulawayo, who was jailed for 232 years last week after being convicted for 15 counts of rape.
