The government of Zimbabwe has proposed a minimum 60 year imprisonment for those guilty of raping minors and the disabled, reports The Herald.
A minimum 40-year prison term will apply for all rape cases as part measures by the government to stamp out the crime.
The proposal to amend the Criminal Law was drafted after a public outcry over rising cases of sexual assault.
“Following widespread concerns over the rising of the heinous crimes of sexual violence or rape, Cabinet considered a proposal on the above matter and resolved to come up with more deterrent measures to stamp out the crime. Accordingly, Government resolved as follows (a) that a sentence of 60 years of imprisonment be imposed for cases of rape of minors below 12 years of age and the disabled: and (b) that a sentence of 40 years of imprisonment be imposed for the rest of the cases of rape or sodomy,” said Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Christopher Mushohwe in a statement.
Zimbabwe’s courts of law have been letting some offenders get long custodial sentences while others walked away with minimum possible jail terms.
Last year, the police revealed that about 325 girls are raped every month, the majority between the ages of 11 and 15, which translates to 11 rape cases daily, according to News Day.
