Mon, 12 Jun 2017 11:46:55 +0000
THE news that the scourge of defilement is on the increase in Eastern Province, and most likely in the rest of the country, is worrying. It is an affront to the collaborative efforts of many stakeholders to confront the problem.
At least 1,182 defilement cases were reported throughout the country in 2015 alone. Perhaps more than this number were not reported due to lack of awareness and pressure of family demands.
The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) says 17 defilement cases were recorded last month in Chipata. This figure did not include cases reported to the Police Victim Support Unit (VSU) and the hundreds others occurring daily in remote areas of the province.
Eastern Province police chief Alex Chilufya says although there were no official figures of cases reported so far this year, the vice was definitely on the increase going by the number of cases reported to the police on a daily basis.
Police are puzzled that despite perpetrators being arrested, prosecuted and in the majority of cases sentenced to long-term imprisonment, the crime of selfish passion is on the increase. They blame what they call socio-economic issues as contributing to the escalation of the vice.
What baffles the experts is that would-be instigators of this crime were supposed to be deterred by these jail terms, most of which are highly publicised, but for one reason or another this is not the case.
Many institutions in the country, spearheaded by Government, have been heavily involved in awareness campaigns at the highest level to curb defilement and huge resources have been allocated to eradicate this social cancer that traumatises victims and destroys their future.
According to YWCA coordinator in Chipata Ms Dorothy Ndhlovu, defilement was increasing at an alarming rate and one of the saddening aspects was that in most incidences perpetrators were close family members.
This made it difficult for victims, the majority of whom are young, vulnerable and ignorant of the law, to report as these cases were happening in far-flung rural communities where it takes sometimes the whole day to walk to the nearest police station.
This family connection complicates the fight against defilement even more as family bonds militate against any wish by the victim to have the defiler punished. In most cases these issues are handled at family level and the matter settled quietly.
In some cases the perpetrator is advised by the elders, as a form of ‘‘punishment’’, to marry the victim he has violated to cover up her shame – in the process committing another crime of perpetuating child marriage.
Myths, superstitions and cultural practices will for many years continue to allow a situation where children of the female gender are sexually abused and their future put on the line. This is where sociologists, health workers and community support groups must come in to help. No resources should be spared to advance the cause of eradicating defilement in our society.
Intensified awareness campaigns must be carried out throughout the country to educate parents and the community that the girl child must be protected and those who cross the line prosecuted. The would-be victims too must be made aware of their basic right against sexual violation regardless of how close they are related to the defiler.
It is gratifying to hear traditional leaders across the length and breadth of our country speaking strongly against vices such as defilement, child marriage and gender based violence. Some of them are personally leading crusades to clean up society of negative cultural beliefs and practices embedded in our customs and beliefs
Only through such affirmative action at grassroots level will defilement – which is the worst form of GBV – ever be uprooted from our society.
