By Own Correspondent

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Women’s Committee (WC) has castigated the rising trend of sexual abuse of young girls amid calls for stiffer penalties to all perpetrators of such inhumane acts.

The outcry comes in the wake of the reported case concerning a nine-year-old girl who was impregnated.

Cases of underage girls being impregnated, dying from pregnancy complications and left to bear the brunt of living a disrupted life are rising at an alarming level.

“While we applaud the Zimbabwean Government for making history by taking care of abused girl children, we strongly condemn the incidents leading to the pregnancy itself of the minor.

“The state must now descend heavily on perpetrators with stiff jail sentences to send a clear message of intolerance to the vice. We note that such cases are not being handled or concluded in a manner that shows the state’s sincerity in dealing with such social vices,” said WC secretary , Clara Vera.

She however bemoaned the fact that perpetrators are easily granted bail and left to roam in society while posing a greater risk to other children, a situation she said is fast making the country a hunting ground for juvenile sex predators while the police and judiciary are responding in a lukewarm fashion.

“As working mothers, we are seriously disturbed by the lack of adequate security measures when it is the responsibility of the government to secure a safe, free and comfortable environment for minors and all citizens,” said Vera.

According to United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 19 and 34 as well as Section 81(e) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, on Rights of Children, governments must protect children from violence, abuse, sexual exploitation and neglect by anyone.

“Some of the prominent cases that have been flagged out include media reports of a girl child who died of pregnancy related complications and that of a grade seven pupil who delivered while sitting for examinations.

“We note that a lot more cases of that nature go unreported and responsible ministries and state organs must take a proactive role in the protection of minors by raising adequate awareness, promote responsible sexual behaviour and secure justice for victims,” added Vera.