Men and incest: Why?

WE ARE appalled at the continued arrest of men for sexually abusing their own daughters.

The courts of law are inundated with cases of fathers defiling their own daughters, even impregnating them.

Despite the harsh sentences the courts have been meting out under the strengthened Penal Code these offences keep rising by the day.

The media are awash with stories about this or that father who has been arrested or imprisoned for sexually violating his biological daughter.

This is worrying. In a society that still have strong family values, where the family unit is still a respected and close-knit institution it is appalling that such things should be happening.

Zambia is not only a Christian nation but also a relatively conservative society where sexual contact between biological relatives is still taboo.

Just what is influencing men to turn their own children into sexual partners?

We know that some of the men are doing this for ritual purposes.

They are misled by some crooked witchdoctors into believing that if they have sex with a biological child they will become rich.

By the time such weak-minded men realised that they have actually been fooled it is too late.

They have shattered the life of an innocent girl.

In many cases the girls are infected with sexually transmitted infections.

Some are impregnated.

It is cruel to the innocent child born out of the incestuous sexual contact.

Such children are emotionally tormented when they learn that they are products of an unholy union.

As if that were not enough they are stigmatised by their relatives, peers and members of the community as a result of the shameful manner in which they were brought into this world. 

What is difficult to understand is how a normal man could have the courage to pounce on his own daughter and sexually violate her when he is the one who is expected to be protecting her.

Is it an indicator of the new depths depravity has hit in this country?

Could it be a reflection of failing social structures caused by socio-economic dynamics?

Could it be that the Church and other faiths are not doing enough to preach and promote morality in our society?

Whatever the case the situation is getting worse and needs to be addressed.

Fathers should never be sexually attracted to their own children. They are not even supposed to turn their horny attention on other people’s children.

We believe something is seriously wrong with our society.

When men stop flinching from even just touching the bodies of their own daughters the Church should rise to the occasion and preach against the despicable vice.

Civil society organisations involved in the protection of children’s rights should join forces with the government and the Church to mount a vigorous campaign against the scourge.

Men should be targeted and sensitise to be protectors of their daughters and not violators.

This should include naming and shaming the perpetrators so that would-be offenders can learn that there will be grave consequences should they engage in incest involving children.

Police should also continue arresting men alleged to have committed incest with their own daughters.