In Lusaka, a significant protest took place in response to a distressing wave of child rape incidents disturbing the nation. Protesters gathered to express their outrage over various horrific cases that have shocked the public, including the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl by her father while she received cancer treatment. Other barbaric reports include a five-year-old assaulted by a gang of four men and a father who raped and infected his six-year-old daughter with a sexually transmitted infection.
Zambians Demand Justice Amid Alarming Child Rape Crisis
Zambians Demand Justice Amid Alarming Child Rape Crisis
Zambia witnesses a powerful protest against rising child rape incidents, calling for urgent legal reforms.
The urgent need to address these heinous crimes was highlighted in a recent call from Justice Minister Princess Kasune-Zulu, who proposed the extreme measure of castration for child rapists to protect vulnerable children and deter potential offenders. In an impassioned parliament address, she questioned the moral decay permeating society, advocating for collective introspection among Zambians.
On Thursday, civil society organizations, musicians, and concerned citizens marched through Lusaka to put pressure on the government to implement stricter laws against child rapists. They handed a petition to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, demanding that individuals accused of child rape be denied bail. Nalumango echoed the protesters’ sentiments, asserting that this issue demands national attention and action.
Musician Daputsa Nkhata-Zulu, popularly known as Sista D, passionately voiced the need for a safer environment for children and supported castration as a punitive measure for rapists, emphasizing their unworthiness of male dignity. Recent statistics reveal alarming trends, as Zambia reported over 10,000 cases of gender-based violence involving children in just the last quarter of 2024, primarily concentrated in Lusaka.
More than 32,000 individuals received counseling for gender-based violence last year, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. As Zambia grapples with this crisis, the call for justice and reform resonates louder than ever, illuminating the urgent need for societal change to safeguard the nation's future.
On Thursday, civil society organizations, musicians, and concerned citizens marched through Lusaka to put pressure on the government to implement stricter laws against child rapists. They handed a petition to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, demanding that individuals accused of child rape be denied bail. Nalumango echoed the protesters’ sentiments, asserting that this issue demands national attention and action.
Musician Daputsa Nkhata-Zulu, popularly known as Sista D, passionately voiced the need for a safer environment for children and supported castration as a punitive measure for rapists, emphasizing their unworthiness of male dignity. Recent statistics reveal alarming trends, as Zambia reported over 10,000 cases of gender-based violence involving children in just the last quarter of 2024, primarily concentrated in Lusaka.
More than 32,000 individuals received counseling for gender-based violence last year, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. As Zambia grapples with this crisis, the call for justice and reform resonates louder than ever, illuminating the urgent need for societal change to safeguard the nation's future.
