Men’s network calls for law to castrate defilers, rapists

THE Zambia National Mens Network is calling for legislation to allow for castration of defilers and rapists as this will be permanent. ZNMN national coordinator Nelson Banda said it was high time perpetrators were castrated as a deterrent measure as sexual violence inflicts pain, including death on the victims and severe stress on their families.

Banda said the defilement of two girls aged 13 in Lusaka in separate incidents was a tip of the iceberg regarding the extent to which such violent crimes against girls had reached in the country. He called for change of legislation in dealing with crimes against innocent girls and women as the lives of the two girls have been severely ruined by the irresponsible men.

As an organisation that works with men and boys to fight SGBV, we strongly feel that castration is the only solution to stop sexual violence against innocent girls. We are enraged that the country is being robbed of potential women leaders who can make meaningful contributions to their communities and the country as a whole, he said.

In the first incident, a girl of Mtendere compound was repeatedly defiled and impregnated by her step father, who is on the run, while in the second incident, a girl of Lusakas Garden House was defiled and brutally beaten by unknown criminals and is now admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). This is a disturbing reminder that the country cannot continue doing business as usual of sending defilers to long jail sentences as this has not deterred would be offenders from committing sexual violence on women and girls, but castration should be considered as a lasting solution.

Banda said recent statistics issued by the Zambia Police Service show an increase in defilement cases in the third quarter of 2018, standing at 6,114 compared to 5,096 reported in 2017. He said out of the 2018 statistics, 664 cases were defilement and Lusaka Province recorded the highest number at 320 cases. Banda said the future of those 320 girls had been ruined as some of them could have been infected with sexually transmitted infections.

Furthermore, behind the 320 defiled girls in Lusaka alone, there are 320 irresponsible men who could still be on rampage preying on many other innocent girls. The sad reality is that there are 320 mothers or guardians who are traumatised as a result of their daughters being defiled and struggling to deal with the unforeseen medical bills which could have come as a result of the trauma associated with defilement, he said.

Banda said many organisations have carried out sensitisation activities to create awareness about the dangers of sexual violence but perpetrators have continued defiling children.

This means that there is a very serious problem in the country which needs a radical approach to address the scourge which as already highlighted is on the increase. As an organisation, we will petition members of parliament by collecting 1,000 signatures from members of the public to support the proposed piece of legislation and we have no doubt our lawmakers will rise to the challenge and act for the preservation of the girl child and women, said Banda.