Child sexual abuse in Zimbabwe is no longer an isolated problem, it is a crisis. The recent cases of a 5 year-old girl assaulted by a neighbor, a 6 year old raped by a 26 year old man and a 13 year-old girl abused by a 36 year-old man are not just shocking headlines; they are a painful reflection of a society that has failed its most vulnerable. And yet, despite these horrors, the response remains muted. How many more children must suffer before we decide that enough is enough?
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has sounded the alarm, urging communities to act. But law enforcement alone cannot solve this crisis. The real problem lies in our collective silence. Abuse thrives in secrecy, in the unspoken fears of victims, in the reluctance of communities to intervene, and in the cultural norms that discourage reporting such crimes. Too often, perpetrators walk free while survivors live with the scars of trauma, denied justice by a society that chooses to look away.
This silence is the greatest weapon abusers have. Many children suffer in their own homes and neighborhoods, abused by people they trust, relatives, teachers, neighbors. And when they do gather the courage to speak, they are met with skepticism, victim blaming, or outright dismissal. Parents, guardians, and community leaders must recognize that ignoring these cases does not make them disappear, it only allows the problem to grow.
“Young girls are being sexually abused by individuals they share accommodation with. In some cases prophets lure minors through parents or guardians on the pretext they want to assist them”.
If we are serious about protecting children, we must break this culture of silence. We need to foster an environment where survivors are believed and supported, not shamed. Reporting abuse should not be seen as a betrayal of family or community ties but as a necessary step toward justice. Schools must educate children about their rights, and communities must be trained to recognize the warning signs of abuse.
The ZRP has called for greater collaboration with local leaders and organizations to implement awareness campaigns, but awareness alone is not enough. We need stronger laws and harsher penalties for offenders. We need a justice system that prioritizes the well-being of survivors over the reputations of perpetrators. And we need a society that refuses to normalize the suffering of children.
“Members of the public are implored to come forward and join hands with the police in the fight against child sexual abuse. Traditional leaders and the church are implored to partner the Zimbabwe Republic Police in the ongoing awareness campaign against rape and child sexual abuse in the country”, said the police in a press statement.
Zimbabwe cannot afford to remain passive while its children are preyed upon. Protecting our young should not be an afterthought, it should be a national priority. If we truly care about the future of this country, we must act now. Ending child sexual abuse is not just the responsibility of law enforcement, it is the responsibility of every single one of us.
