HARARE - Vice president Joice Mujuru should be commended for launching the National Action Plan against Rape which is indeed a step in the right direction.
Rape in itself is not only a crime of violence but has far reaching consequences on survivors and this initiative will go a long way in nipping in the bud a cancer that has been growing rapidly in our Christian nation.
The media is awash with stories of how survivors find it difficult to cope after such cruel acts, but the move by the most powerful woman in Zimbabwe will no doubt strengthen the already existing programmes.
This is because the Action Plan will implore government agencies to make concerted efforts to stop the heinous crime.
“Whatever is the cause or the motivating factor, I say this is wrong, this is bad. It is horrendous and sheer madness. It must stop, I repeat this must stop.
“I am sure all the relevant arms of government who have the responsibility of bringing sanity, order, good and normal human behaviour will scale up their operations and contribute towards the ideal Zimbabwe we all want,” Mujuru said during the launch last week.
We could not agree more with her.
In launching the Action Plan, Mujuru fully exerted her role as a senior mother in the nation, a development which is highly commendable.
The Action Plan comes as statistics by the police reveal that more than 10 000 women were raped between 2012 and the first quarter of 2014.
According to Zimbabwe National Statistics Office (Zimstats), at least 15 women are raped in Zimbabwe every day and these alarming figures should put us all to shame.
Childline Zimbabwe, an organisation that helps children in distress says 25 percent of their calls involved sexual abuse of children.
Such alarming figures reveal the extent of the problem which now needs drastic and stiffer penalties for perpetrators.
It is also encouraging to note that a precedent has been set on rape cases if the sentencing of a 29-year-old serial rapist Thomas Chitembwe by magistrate Simon Rodgers Kachambwa to 230 years in prison earlier this year is anything to go by.
This not only goes a long way in restoring confidence in the country’s justice system but also serves as a strong warning to would be rapists.
Oppah Muchinguri, the minister of Women Affairs Gender and Community Development last year made an emotional plea to the President to help nip the cancer in the bud and it is encouraging to note that her plea has found takers.