The ManicaPost
Luxson Chananda
THE rape of children has probably become one of the most heartbreaking of crimes. Over the years, individuals and organisations have shown concern over the increase in cases where children are raped.
While the police have followed up on trends and patterns in the commission of this offence it has still remained to some extent a mystery as to why adults are raping children as young as six months. We, however, feel, policing this crime requires us to stick together and watch our back as we move forward because criminals use whatever advantage is prevailing at any moment to strike.
The unusually wet spell experienced this season brought with it reason for relief in one way, but has also left many children in a quandary. Dense vegetation has exposed children, particularly girls more to abuse.
This discussion on ways by which rape of juveniles can be prevented is not new. It is the worrisome ever changing trends in the way the offence is committed that makes it necessary for us to persistently sound warnings to potential victims and other concerned people. We, however, need to first look at some of the contributing factors to the commission of this offence.
Rape by close relatives and neighbours
Children have complete trust in people they live with. We have heard how children have been raped by their biological fathers, brothers, uncles, step fathers and other close relatives. These are the very people the children look up to for protection and it is this natural element that is taken advantage of by the culprits. It is also sad to note that this trust even goes to cover up for the offender where the child after being abused is either threatened or sweet talked to keep the mouth shut.
Rape by strangers
Generally, strangers commit crime in connivance with local criminals, but of late they have actually become daring and will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. We still recall the menacing serial rapists who went about luring young girls from schools into secluded bushy areas where he would rape them. Children should be seriously and continuously warned against the habit of entertaining strangers on the roads, at school or even at home. They should be told not to accept gifts or any kind offer from people they are not familiar with.
On the other hand, children attending school should be given adequate bus fare to avoid situations where they are forced to beg for a ride home. The same goes for food where children may be forced to accept offers of money or food because they are hungry.
As said before, the good rains experienced this year have brought us a bag of mixed fortunes. Strangers have found an easier hunting ground for their acts in children who are being sent to guard crop fields from problem wild animals. A case in point is Nyanga, where a 9-year-old girl was raped whilst guarding a maize field from monkeys.
Vegetation is also very dense this time around and this has made it difficult for children to be observed and monitored for protection even when they are guarding fields that are located close to homes. Some girls are being raped whilst herding cattle. We all appreciate the difficulties in employing herd boys but the issue of the safety of the child, especially the girl should take precedence ahead of any other matter.
Lastly, the ZRP calls on parents and guardians to open up to their children so that they become free to speak out on what is happening at their school or playing grounds. “Safety and security don’t just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear,” one prominent African leader once said. – Inserted by ZRP Manicaland Press and Public Relations
This has been evident in a number of ways some of which are highlighted below.
Report inflow after a campaign: – Many children have spoken out where police would have made an appeal to report cases during crime awareness campaigns. This suggests that had such a campaign not been done, the cases would have remained unreported leaving culprits going about their heinous acts unperturbed.
Diseases: – Sometimes a child is discovered to have been raped after developing sexually transmitted infections. These have often been seen to manifest in the form of abdominal pains, sores or other related complications.
Pregnancies: – These are situations where a rape is disclosed only after the victim is discovered to be pregnant. The victim would have been raped and does not tell anyone about the rape for various reasons. As said before, the child could have been intimidated and cowered into silence.
Reports by other children: – those children who were in the company of the victim when the abuse occurred sometimes are the ones who report what happened. This is why the police has been keen on intensifying campaigns in schools because children do speak when empowered with the requisite knowledge on why it is important to do so.
Lastly, the ZRP calls on parents and guardians to open up to their children so that they become free to speak out on what is happening at their school or playing grounds. It has been observed that parents have a tendency to shut out their children each time they attempt to say out what is happening out of the parents’ sight.
Keeping your ear to the ground and developing close friendships with your children will ensure you don’t lose track of what is happening thereby enabling you to provide a lasting shield to your children. “Safety and security don’t just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear”, One prominent African leader once said.
Inserted by – ZRP Manicaland Press and Public Relations
