Alpha Media Holdings

To rapists amid questions over legality

“I feel the release of these people is a threat to the welfare of child survivors, their relatives and even to the welfare of those that have not been abused.”

In a brief phone call with VOA, Justice ministry permanent secretary Virginia Mabiza said that rapists were not supposed to have been released on parole — and then the phone call was abruptly cut out.

Several attempts to reach Mabiza a second time were unsuccessful.

Another child rights group, Equality Now, said the premature release of convicted sexual offenders compromised public safety, denied survivors the closure they deserved and eroded faith in the criminal justice system.

“By releasing prisoners convicted of sexual offences, Zimbabwe has relegated the rights of women and girls and thus exposed them to further violation,” said Equality Now’s Jean-Paul Murunga.

“We therefore call [for] immediate reversal of the decision.

“Further, we call [for] effective implementation of the laws against sexual violence, including proper implementation of a sexual offenders’ register, to ensure such [a] release is not repeated in future.”

Prematurely freeing convicted rapists and perpetrators of gender-based violence sends a “chilling message that these violations are not taken seriously,” he said.

“Granting early release disregards the severity of the crimes and undermines the rule of law and the trust placed in the legal system by victims and the public alike,” said Murunga, a Kenyan national.

Musimwa of Justice for Children said the clemency order on which the inmates were released does not allow rapists to be on parole.

Former president Robert Mugabe, pardoned thousands of inmates to make room in the country's overcrowded, cash- and resource-strapped prisons in 2016.

The decision followed a March 2015 prison uprising over food shortages that turned violent as some prisoners attempted to break out of jail, said thenvice president Mnangagwa.

The protests resulted in the deaths of five inmates who were shot by police.

As president, Mnangagwa pardoned 3,000 to ease overcrowding in 2018. Neither the 2016 nor 2018 pardons extended to those convicted of murder, treason, rape and armed robbery.

Local News

en-zw

2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://alphamedia.pressreader.com/article/281590949939962

Alpha Media Group