THE Zimbabwe Current Affairs website shows that 13 838 sexual offences and aggravated domestic violence cases were recorded in 2023, according to statistics from the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ).
That translates to over 1 150 cases every month; or nearly 40 reports everyday. According to ZimStat about 7000 sexual violence cases were reported in just the first and second quarters of 2025.
Experts, however, warn that the real numbers are far higher because many survivors never report what happened to them. Behind every statistic is a child, woman or family carrying the weight of trauma; sadly, often in silence.
The scale of sexual abuse: Global, regional and Zimbabwean realities
Sexual violence affects millions of women and girls worldwide. A global review in the Unicef report, Hidden in Plain Sight: A Statistical Analysis of Violence Against Children, found that around 1 in 5 girls worldwide experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. According to Unicef, global estimates released in 2024, more than 370 million girls and women worldwide have experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18.
When non-contact sexual violence such as harassment and online exploitation is included, the number rises to around 650 million girls and women globally.
The World Health Organisation estimates that nearly one in three women globally; about 840 million women, have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
Recent global data from Unicef’s 2024 analysis of sexual violence against children shows that boys are also heavily affected by sexual abuse. 410-530 million boys and men worldwide have experienced
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sexual violence during childhood.
This is approximately 1 in 7 boys globally.
Of these, 240-310 million boys and men (around 1 in 11) experienced sexual assault before the age of 18. Researchers note that the real numbers may be even higher because boys often face strong social stigma that discourages reporting abuse.
The situation in Africa is equally alarming. The African Child Policy Forum report, The African Report on Violence Against Children (2021) indicates that millions of African children experience sexual abuse each year, often by individuals known to them such as relatives, neighbours or trusted community members.
In Zimbabwe, available evidence shows the problem is widespread. According to ZimStat and Unicef’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2019), a significant proportion of women reported experiencing sexual violence during their lifetime. A Violence Against Children Study by the Health and Child Care ministry in 2019, shows that children, including boys, are increasingly becoming
vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
These figures may represent only a fraction of the true scale of abuse because of non-reporting.
Africa carries one of the heaviest burdens
In sub-Saharan Africa, the crisis is particularly severe. Unicef estimates that over 79 million girls and women in the region experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood.
Many of these cases occur within homes or communities, often involving people known to the survivor such as relatives, neighbours, teachers or community members.
Studies however estimate that less than 20% of rape cases are reported, meaning thousands of survivors remain invisible in official statistics.
When pressure silences survivors
A research published in 2005, Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse: What Does the Research Tell Us? found that many survivors delay disclosure for years and some never report abuse at all. A more recent study by Mathews et al. (2025) estimates that nearly 45% of people who experience child sexual abuse never disclose it to anyone.
In Zimbabwe, under-reporting is also a serious concern. Survivors may report abuse to family members or community leaders but never formally report it to the police or child protection services. As a result, many cases never enter the justice system.
In some families and communities, survivors are encouraged to resolve the issue privately rather than pursue justice.
This silence often protects perpetrators while leaving survivors without support. As the National Prosecuting Authority warns, sexual violence “destroys families and communities” therefore must be reported and addressed through the justice system.
The hidden trauma of silence
When abuse is hidden, survivors often carry the emotional burden for years.
Research on the psychological impact of abuse shows that survivors may experience short-term effects of fear, anxiety, shame, self-blame, emotional distress leading to suicide and long-term effects of depression, trauma-related disorders, difficulty forming healthy relationships, substance abuse or risky behaviours and lifelong emotional scars. Silence can also put other children at risk. When perpetrators are not exposed, they may continue abusing others within the same family or community.
Why families and communities matter
The response a survivor receives when they speak up can shape the rest of their life. Supportive families and communities can help survivors to heal and pursue justice.
However, when survivors are dismissed, blamed or silenced, the damage can deepen. Breaking the silence requires courage; but it also requires community support. Families can play a powerful role by listening to children without judgment, believing survivors when they speak, seeking medical, psychosocial and legal support and reporting abuse to authorities. With timely intervention, counselling and strong support systems, survivors can begin the process of healing and rebuilding their sense of safety and self-worth.
Silence protects the wrong person
For many families, speaking about sexual abuse is uncomfortable. It may feel easier to keep the matter private or hope the problem disappears. But silence does not make the abuse go away.
Instead, it often protects the perpetrator while survivors carry the pain alone.
Every time a survivor is believed, supported and protected, the cycle of abuse begins to break. Families and communities are the first line of defence for children. Protecting them must always come first before protecting reputations. Let us, therefore, replace silence with awareness and accountability, to break the cycle of abuse.
