Paedophiles put on notice

THE Government has assured the nation that the law will be implemented fully to bring to book, perpetrators of child sexual abuse in communities.

This comes on the back of news of an eight months pregnant nine-year-old girl who is admitted to United Bulawayo Hospitals.

In a statement, Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said a collective approach by all stakeholders and responsible authorities was needed to take action against such criminal acts.

“The incident is another clear testimony of some deep-rooted, secreted negative culture of child sexual abuse implanted in some of our communities. This case poses a health risk to the life of the child and the baby she is carrying,” she said.

She said it was more worrying that the incident had happened within weeks of another incident where a young girl from Norton died at a shrine in Bikita while giving birth and the case of Annah Machaya who also died last year, while giving birth at a shrine in Marange.

Minister Nyoni said the fact that in all the cases, communities, parents and guardians had been at the centre of concealing the abuse was very worrying.

“The Ministry condemns in the strongest sense such harmful practices and calls upon all stakeholders to be proactive in the fight against gender based violence and harmful practices particularly child marriages.

“The Marriages Act clearly states that the age of marriage is 18. Families, communities, religious and traditional leaders need to spring into action against such contemptible acts. We call upon families and girls to shun the culture of silence and speak out,” said the Minister.