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Minister calls for stiffer sentences on rapists

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WOMEN Affairs, Gender and Community Development minister Oppah Muchinguri appealed for punitive policy measures against rapists.

WOMEN Affairs, Gender and Community Development minister Oppah Muchinguri appealed for punitive policy measures against rapists amid reports that an average of 100 girls were raped each week throughout the country.

STAFF REPORTER

Muchinguri told Senators that the matter had also been raised in Cabinet, resulting in the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to be chaired by her ministry to work out modalities to combat the crime.

“As a ministry, we are concerned that every day we have some rape case stories reported in the media,” Muchinguri said.

“Just using one example; last week in Cabinet when Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi reported that within seven days – after doing some monitoring by his ministry — more than 100 rape cases were perpetrated.”

Muchinguri said the inter- ministerial committee will include Education, Health and Child Care, Justice, and Local Government ministries.

“Children are being raped mainly by relatives including fathers.  These are not only school-going children, but even children at the age of three months are being raped,” she said.

“We have to also use the Local Government ministry who will be involved to ensure traditional leaders guide us in as far as culture is concerned because there are still practices in our culture which are harmful and have no place at all in our society today.”

Muchinguri said Cabinet had expressed concern over some light sentences against rapists.