DATA from a Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (Zimstat) Crime Situation Report reveal that Zimbabwe recorded a total 3,175 Sexual Violence criminal offenses between October and December 2022.
By Michael Gwarisa
The information contained in the Zimstat report is based on data collected from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Crime Report and Disposal System. According to Mr Taguma Mahonde, the Zimstat Director General, there was a 12 percent increase in recorded criminal offenses in the last quarter of 2022.
The number of recorded offenses increased by 12 per cent, from 185,660 recorded in the 3rd Quarter to 208,027 recorded in the 4th Quarter. In terms of Sexual violence offenses, 3,175 cases of sexual violence were recorded during the period Oct to Dec 2022, representing a crime rate of 20.9 per 100,000 population,” said Mr Mahode.
The latest affirms the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) findings where the gathered that at least 22 women are raped daily in Zimbabwe with an average of one rape taking place per 75 minutes translating to an average of 646 women being violated each month.
Cases of Sexual Violence nature have been on the increase in Zimbabwe especially during and the COVID-19 crises. Zimbabwe’s national GBV Hotline, run by Musasa – an organisation dealing with issues of violence against women and girls and providing relief to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) indicated that they recorded more than 6,800 GBV related calls from the beginning of the lockdown on 30 March 2020 until the end of December 2020, with an overall average increase of over 40 per cent compared to the pre-lockdown trends. About 94 per cent of the calls are from women.
The Zimstat report further indicated that criminal offenses involving assault and threats were the most frequent of the acts causing harm or intending to cause harm to the person. The rate for assaults and threats stood at 180.5 per 100,000 people.
According to report Bulawayo has the crime rate in Zimbabwe having recorded 3,134.5 criminal offenses in the last quarter against a national crime prevalence rate of 1,370.5. Harare follows closely with 2,116.9 while Mat South had 1,687.5, Masvingo 1.359.2, Midlands 1,343.1, Mashonaland West 1, 303.9, Mat North 1,214.1, Mash Central 1,006.4, Mash East 933.6 and Manicaland 564.3.
A 2019 Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) national survey found that 9% of girls and 1% of boys experience any form of sexual violence, with 5% of girls experiencing pressured or forced sex.
