CIVIC society groups are lobbying for a minimum 15-year mandatory sentence on sex offences and establishment of a national sex offenders’ register.
Katswe Sistahood, Youth Engage, Bekezela Home Based Care, Insiza Godhlwayo AIDS Council and the Million Memory Project (the SRHR Alliance in Zimbabwe) have joined forces to turn on the heat on sex offenders.
Speaking yesterday during a public hearing on the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Bill in Harare, which was held by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Katswe Sistahood representative Godwill Zulu said: “The inclusion of a minimum mandatory sentence for rape and aggravated indecent assault is a welcome step that can assist to deter would-be perpetrators and to restore public confidence in the justice delivery system.”
Zulu said the proposed amendment only covers two sexual offences, and do not have prescribed minimum mandatory sentences.
“We recommend that lawmakers provide minimum mandatory sentences for sexual offences. We further propose that sexual offences involving children must attract a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years. Consensual sex between minors should not be criminalised, and the discord between the laws on the age of consent to sex needs to be corrected,” he said.
“It’s the objective of the law to protect children from sexual exploitation by adults by setting the minimum age at which young people can consent to sex. The conflict of laws around age of consent to sex has been recently determined by the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe. The legislature was given one year to amend various sections of the Criminal Code that are in conflict with the Constitution, which defines a child as anyone below the age of 18.”
Zulu said lawmakers should give effect to the ruling made by the Constitutional Court by amending sections 61, 62 and 70 of the Constitution.”
“The definition of a young person must be repealed in section 61 by bringing in a definition which defines a young person as a boy or girl under the age of 18 years. The sex offenders register will strengthen protection of children from persons who have authority over them like teachers.
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“The register will record the names of persons who have been convicted on charges of sexual offences committed against a child or a mentally disabled person. We further recommend that anyone whose name appears in the register should not be employed in any capacity in an institution that works with children,” he said.
Kadoma Central legislator Muchineripi Chinyanganya told NewsDay that in Bindura, people who attended the public hearing opposed criminalisation of lack of patriotism, which is part of the proposed amendments in the Criminal Code.
