FIREBRAND politician and president of LEAD, Linda Masarira, is the process of drafting a petition to have all rape offenders who were released on Presidential Amnesty returned to prison and locked up until their sentence lapses.
By Michael Gwrisa
The development comes following the release of 4270 inmates during a Presidential amnesty by President Emmerson Mnangwga, where amnesty was granted to various categories of prisoners including those who are terminally ill, those who have served at least three-quarters of their sentence, or one tenth if over the age of 60. Violent criminals as well as those serving time for robbery, treason and public order and security offences/ were excluded.
However, among those released were convicted rapists who confirmed during seperate video interviews by local media that they had raped children as young as nine in some cases. This has however sent shock-waves across the country with individual voices coming out guns blazing condemning the sad development.
In an interview with HealthTimes, Masasira said she would fight to ensure the rapists are sent back to where they belong (Prison).
My legal team is in the process of drafting a petition which we will be handing over to the president of Zimbabwe tomorrow. Releasing rapists if a travesty of justice and we cannot have such serious criminals being released on Presidential pardon. Rape is a serious issue, it affects the well-being of children and in this case, the minors who were raped can live with the effects of rape for a lifetime,” said Masarira.
She added that the Government Gazette that published the categories of prisoners to be released did not include rapists.
“They never used to pardon serious criminals. What is happening & what happened?”
She said the petition will be handed over physically while they will also provide a link for others to sign the petition online.
“We are working on a central point where people could come and sign the petition before we submit it. We need to be serious with this issue and we want all those offenders who were released on Presidential pardon return back to prison. On such maters we need to move fast. Simbi inorohwa ichapisa (the iron is struck while it is still hot.)
Other social media users are already supporting Masarira’s move to Petition President Mnagnagwa to return the rapists back to prison.
Dr Gugu Ncube tweeted saying, “I will support this with my everything. The president should never try us. I am angry. A person rapes a 9 year old, serves a year n the president releases him. What nonsense is this, Zimbabwe.”
Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, the Founder and Chief Executive of the Rozaria Memorial Trust said, “Very important action. Rape is a violent crime with lifelong impact.”
Girls Rights advocate, Chipo Mlambo said, “I never wade into the politics of the land. However I just saw a video of a rapist who got 18 years and has been released after just 4. Presidential pardon.
I’m sick to my stomach. My days are spent saving little girls, victims of rape, making sure they deliver safely and with dignity. I’ve begged you through Twitter to raise the issue of a National Sex Offender registry. This man is now free. Who is going to monitor him? What is his victim supposed to do? Please tell me releasing rapists was an error and you will remedy this.”
