Girls warned against visiting ‘prophets’ alone as rape cases rise in Zimbabwe‼️

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KWEKWE – The Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals (ZACH) has warned girls and women against visiting ‘prophets’ unaccompanied to avoid being sexually violated.

ZACH Kwekwe coordinator, Chamunorwa Marange told Masvingo Mirror that three sexual abuse cases by self-proclaimed prophets were recorded in the district between July and October. 

“We have noted some sad incidents of sexual abuse of girls by these so called prophets so we urge these young girls not to seek help from prophets on their own, they should be accompanied by an adult or a friend so as to avoid such incidents.

“This year from July to this October we have handled three such cases of girls aged 15, 16 and 17, although the figure is not much we are thinking of those cases that go unreported,” he said.

He also revealed that ZACH has handled 141 cases of abuse of girls from 19 years and 36 cases of women from 20 to 24 years of age from January to October this year.

“Mostly the cases are as a result of ‘mujolo’, recently we had two cases , from Redcliff and Zhombe where teachers were perpetrators, it’s actually consented sex and not reported so we have limited number of actual rape cases.

“We need to continue providing information on healthy relationships, boundaries, and consent, encourage building trusted relationships with friends, family, or mentors.

“There is need to create safe and confidential environments for sharing concerns or experiences and also to teach self-defense, assertiveness, and decision-making skills to our girls,” he said.