Harare (New Ziana) -A 41-year-old man from Waterfalls in Harare has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for repeatedly raping his 14-year-old biological daughter.

The Harare magistrates’ court handed down the sentence after finding the man guilty of sexually assaulting his daughter multiple times between April and December last year.

According to court records, the man lured his daughter to a nearby river, where he proposed a romantic relationship and sexually assaulted her despite her refusal, threatening to kill her if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.

The abuse continued even when the victim’s stepmother was away, only coming to light when the victim revealed her pregnancy to her grandmother, initially claiming that a boyfriend was responsible.

The latest crime statistics from the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZimStat) show that sexual offences accounted for 2 737 out of the 182 427 crimes recorded in the third quarter of 2023.

Local civil society organization and previous Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) partner, Oasis Zimbabwe, shared alarming statistics showing that every month, at least 113 girls aged 13 and 15 are seeking treatment for sexual abuse at just one clinic in the high density suburb of Mbare.

It said for every girl who is sexually abused, 10 more cases go unreported, often because victims know their perpetrators and find it difficult to speak out.

In Zimbabwe, organizations like Girl Child Empowerment Zimbabwe, Shamwari yemwanasikana, and Girl Child Network work to protect girls from sexual abuse.

Others, such as Family Support Trust, UNICEF Zimbabwe, and Childline Zimbabwe, provide support services and advocate for child welfare, helping to prevent abuse and exploitation.

New Ziana