COPPERBELT Commissioner of Police Elias Chushi has observed that parents,especially mothers, are providing limited care for the little ones.
Mr Chushi said most of the abuse that takes place shows that female guardians and parents were not even aware that their children are being abused.
To address the sexual exploitation of children and women who are usually victims, there is need to ensure that there is proper care and protection from violations.
Mr Chushi said most cases of sexual abuse are carried out either by family members or people within the neighbourhood.
This means preventing child sexual abuse and other forms of violence must begin with families and communities.
“We have advised mothers that children are at higher risk of sexual abuse and the sexual predators are not only found in the house where the children reside, but also among neighbours and those in the community who know that the little ones have no one to take care of them during the day,” he said.
The Copperbelt police commissioner said mothers must account for the care of their little children as it is very rare for strangers to abuse them sexually.
He said this has been seen from the cases that keep rising.
“Children have actually been victims because they have not been taken care of by their families. We have seen families leaving their daughters with older male relatives to take care of them the whole day while mothers are pursuing other errands,” he said.
Mr Chushi said similarly, parents have also become so careless by sending their children as young as 10 years old late in the evening to buy a candle and tomatoes and expect them to come back safely.
Mr Chushi said children in Chipulukusu Township of Ndola have been dragged into unfinished buildings and defiled by strangers because of such errands happening in the evening.
Of late, it has become common for children in Ndola townships to be sent by their parents in the evening to sell fire sticks, among other things, and they only return home very late.
The Copperbelt police commissioner said the police so far have not received any report of a child being dragged from his or her home.
He encouraged the parents to take full responsibility of their children if the cases of sexual gender based violence (SGBV) are to be addressed.
Mr Chushi further noted that so many GBV cases were being reported yet few convictions are being recorded as spouses are sympathising with their partners particularly in cases where the perpetrator is apprehended.
He said concealing information has been seen in most cases were the wife would batter the partner, but that would not be reported because it had the potential to bring shame upon the abused partner.
“Today, we have seen some response from men who are opening up and reporting all forms of violence, unlike in the past. You can imagine the many cases of GBV that are hidden as they are not reported,” he said.
Mr Chushi encouraged couples to report any form of violence which they experience as a way to address the vice.
The police commissioner further said not all police officers are hostile towards those who report GBV cases.
He said although there are some instances where this has been experienced, officers have been trained on how to handle cases related to violence.
A Copperbelt Province social welfare officer said sexual violence is rooted in deep-seated gender inequalities that also exist within the Zambian society.
The inequalities dictate the power structures between men and women and also determine how gender relations should take place.
Chrissy Hilweele said traditionally, society perceives women as having no say in managing the home and are taught to endure abuse.
“We have heard were people say marriage is about suffering, a situation that we ought not to allow because there must be mutual understanding and love and in the process of tolerating negative perceptions, we have seen lives being lost as people try to endure,” he said.
Mr Hilweele expressed concern over male partners who are dying silently with GBV, not through battering, but through the psychological effects that affects them.
“Men need to release the burnt out energy and not look at the scorn and stigma attached by society. Such a situation has eventually led to emotions being built up with no space to burst out resulting into trauma and eventually death due to lack of self esteem,” he said.
Mr Hilweele said GBV cannot only be contained by the State but any problem that has to be sorted out must be communicated effectively.
He said the community must set up committees to look at issues which will raise awareness about matters of GBV that are life threatening if communities are to address the cases of violence.
“There is also need to invest in social capital by involving stakeholders who are enlightened because the community alone cannot manage to stop the violence.
He said regardless of the GBV fast track courts that were set up, cases of
violence have continued to go up hence the need for communities to find ways of arresting the vice.
He also observed the need for the Government to orient traditional marriage counselors concerning issues of rights which are enshrined in the Constitution.
Mr Hilweele expressed disappointment that some parents stop their children from going to school in preference to marrying them off at a tender age.
He said the rights of children are enshrined in the Constitution.
He said such children think what is happening to them is normal, but because of their age, some of them die silently.
“Currently, the Whistle Blowers Act protects the community and families members who report any case and if they are not comfortable with the police, there are other places where they can report complaints to other stakeholders such as the Youth and Social Welfare Department,” he said.
Mr Mr Hilweele called upon the media to carry out sensitisation programmes.
He said without their involvement, the voices of the community cannot be heard.
Nkwazi Market traders who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed concern about the number of young girls and older women who are raped when they go drinking in the evenings.
“We need civic leaders and other stakeholders to address this problem because it is setting a bad example to the young ones who think that what they are seeing and hearing is normal,” he said.
It is evident that families and the community have an important role to play in addressing the problems of violence that are on the upswing.