FAMILY REBUKED FOR SHIELDING SUSPECTED DEFILER
Written by Millennium on September 30, 2019
NOEL IYOMBWA writes
@SunZambian
THE Zambia National Men’s Network for Gender and Development (ZNMNGD) has condemned in strongest terms a family of Chongwe district for shielding a man who defiled his 8 year old niece in Makoka village.
ZNMNGD national coordinator Nelson Banda claimed that perpetrator who allegedly defiled his sister’s daughter was being shielded from arrest by some members of the family who tipped him to run away after learning that the police were after him.
Mr Banda said that ZNMNGD Chongwe Chapter members had earlier reported the matter to Chongwe police station and facilitated the girl’s seeking medical attention by paying for transport to take her to Chongwe District Hospital which was 18 Kilometres away
He said that the medical examination confirmed that the girl had been defiled.
Mr Banda explained that a docket was opened at Chongwe police but the perpetrator had been evading arrest as he was believed to be hiding in Manyika, South East of Chongwe district with the full knowledge of the mother to the defiled girl.
“ZNMNGD is worried that one of the reasons among others why some perpetrators are not prosecuted is because of some parents and guardians who are shielding defilers and yet they know that having sex with a child is a criminal offence,
“We wish to caution parents and guardians not to protect perpetrators even if they are known to be close family members but report them to the police as they are likely to continue abusing other children in the family and extend their evil deeds into the community,” Mr Banda said
He said in the same area there were many cases of defilements, child marriages and gender based violence (GBV).
“Four months ago ZNMNGD rescued a 15 year old girl who was about to be married off by her parents,” he said.
Last month, ZNMNGD members working with Chalimbana Police facilitated the arrest of a father who was found red handed by the mother defiling his 8 year old daughter.
As a way of fighting such evils, ZNMNGD launched the Trusted Men Campaign to step up efforts of working with them and boys to fight the escalating cases of defilement, rape and child marriages in Zambia as the scourge was robbing young girls of their opportunities to realize their full potential in life.
