30 000 children sexually abused

child abuse crisis

Over 30 000 children have been treated after being sexually-abused in the past four years at Harare Hospital alone

these figures are only a tip of the iceberg, experts say. 

 Statistics recently released by the Family Support Trust Clinic at Harare Central Hospital indicate that the figure for the past decade is 70 000.

"It’s a tip of the iceberg — the problem is enormous. We need drugs and any assistance we can get," pediatrician and founder of the clinic Dr Robert Choto said.

He said more cases went unreported because of the fear of stigmatisation, while many parents and guardians were unaware that they could get help for their children.

"It’s horrifying. It rattles me so much so I don’t know what to do. All kinds of thoughts ran across my mind, I want to be violent against the perpetrator, but the profession restrains you; you are helping the victim, the survivor," he said.

According to Unicef, accurate data on child abuse is hard to come by since most cases go unreported and perpetrators go unnoticed and unpunished.

"However, if data from one clinic is that high the problem is obviously pervasive and can be a big national problem.

"As Unicef, we recognise the scale of the problem and that is why we continue to provide support to clinics such as the FST," said Unicef communications officer Ms Tsitsi Singizi.

She said lack of comprehensive research made it difficult to ascertain if current interventions were stemming the tide.

"Nearly half of the reported cases at the FST were in the last four out of 10 years. These statistics are collated from police showing a 42 percent increase over three years in reported rape cases involving children," she said.

Ms Singizi said Zimbabwe had good policies and laws to protect and uphold children’s rights but lacked implementation.

"Silence and inaction allow abuse against children to continue. Perpetrators often enjoyed impunity.

"Teachers who have sexually assaulted or injured their pupils continue to teach," she said.

Unicef noted that children have few mechanisms with which to report abuse.

A number of parents have left the country in search of greener pastures leaving behind their children in care of relatives and friends, exposing them to abuse.

"A family unit is the starting point of socialisation, but when children are left vulnerable, they are exposed, hence these cases of rape and abuse," said Dr Gillian Gotora, a sociologist at the University of Zimbabwe.