CONTINUED reports of men sexually assaulting women and young girls can otherwise be described as a kind of curse.
Not even stiffer jail sentences seem to deter would be offenders judging by the upsurge in such cases.
In the circumstances, there is need for victims to employ measures that would not give room to perpetrators of sexual crimes.
Women and young ladies need to be highly proactive as one way of thwarting attempts to be abused by men.
Proactive measures include being wary of strangers and ensuing that they are secured.
A 22-year-old Kabwe student reported to have been raped by two unknown men from whom she sought a lift is disturbing.
If only the victim had employed extra caution by scrutinising the strangers she had asked lift from, maybe she could have escaped that trap.
Much as society has condemned men for sexually abusing women and young girls, victims too need to always be on guard.
The student is said to have asked for a lift from the unknown men around 15:30 hours from Freedom Avenue to named university.
The  assailants  instead  diverted  her to  a  different destination and  later dragged  her  in unfinished  house  where they  took turns raping her the whole night.
Wasn’t it odd and risky for a young lady to have approached two men unknown to her and ask for a lift to a destination outside town?
Even in the wake of stories of taxi drivers being booked, strangled and robbed of their motor vehicles, women should shun riding with strangers.
Whatever the circumstances were for her to have opted for a ‘free’ ride, a better option would have been to ask for a lift from ladies.
If some men have shamelessly pounced on their daughters, some grandparents turn on their granddaughters and uncles on their nieces, strangers should not be trusted.