Shattered Innocence; Zimbabwe Grapples With an Epidemic of Child Rape

By Regina Pasipanodya

In 2022, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Development revealed that 58% of the 435 cases of rape reported from January to September 2022 involved minors.

These statistics painted a gloomy picture of how child abuse has grown to become a cancer as cases continue to rise even today.

Recently, the Zimbabwe Republic Police have raised concern over the upsurge of child rape across the country with parents and family as common perpetrators.

A Growing Epidemic

According to a press release by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, on 04 March 2025, the Harare Magistrate Court sentenced a 41-year-old Waterfalls man to 15 years’ imprisonment for repeatedly raping his 14-year-old daughter. It came to light that the accused lured his daughter to a nearby river and proposed a romantic relationship and upon the victim’s refusal, he sexually assaulted her.

In another case, on 28 February 2025, the Harare Magistrate sentenced a Norton man to 16 years imprisonment for raping a 13 years old female juvenile who is mentally challenged. In a similar case,e a 42-year-old, Zimunya man from Manicaland province was slammed with an effective 18 years imprisonment for raping a Grade 3 female juvenile who also has a mental disability.

Poverty and Economic Instability

Child sexual abuse is an issue across the globe. While there are myriad factors contributing to the rise in child rape, poverty has been viewed as one of the major causes of this kind of abuse.

Over the past decades, Zimbabwe has gone through an unprecedented economic meltdown exposing people to many things like joining cults which is seen as one of the reasons for the sexual abuse of minors. Moreso, poverty has also seen children becoming more and more vulnerable leading them to the risk of CSA.

“A local pastor, Melania Chitata said, “Nowadays people are raping minors even as young as infants for juju.

“I would like to believe that due to economic instability and a high unemployment rate people are joining cults to survive,” said Chitata.

Betrayal of Trust

This trend in child rape in Zimbabwe has raised alarm in the community as justice has been failing most children as most cases have never been reported or tried in court.

According to UNICEF access to justice is a fundamental right and is essential to the protection of all rights under the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and other human rights treaties.

“However, impunity from sexual violence is rampant in Zimbabwe. This is often due to the withdrawal of cases by parents of survivors, or a lack of accurate forensic evidence.

Children also face challenges in the justice system, including weak intra-system coordination; limited access to rehabilitative programs or pre-trial diversions; and limited capacity in justice officials, court preparation of witnesses and court intermediaries appointed to work with the children,” UNICEF Zimbabwe stressed.

During the HE4SHE March, recently, the Minister of Women Affairs Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Honourable Senator, Monica Mutsvanga reiterated that everyone must protect one another and safety at home starts with a mother, a father, a brother and a sister.

“I want to challenge you all to think about each other in our homes because it is us that makes our homes safe from any form of abuse,” said Hon. Senator Mutsvanga.

However, following the recent upsurge in child rape cases reported across the country, the police highlighted that most of the heinous crimes reported so far are perpetrated by people entrusted with the care, safety and protection of vulnerable children. In some instances, the strangers waylay the minors on their way from school or nearby shops and lure them with sweets and chocolates.

In a statement, Commissioner Paul Nyathi said it is disturbing that some of these perpetrators are people who are expected to provide a safe and nurturing environment for these children.

The police therefore warn parents and relatives who cover up for these issues that they risk being arrested and face jail term.

Failed Justice System
The Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) reiterates that children in Zimbabwe have a Constitutional right to protection from sexual exploitation and all forms of abuse as provided in s 81 (1) (e) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“Children are also entitled to adequate protection by the courts and justice should run its course but this has not bee the case. Therefore, all reported matters taken seriously so that other survivors of abuse feel safe and secure to report cases of abuse.”

However, the police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect children from sexual abuse.