Musasa petitions Parliament to craft law on mandatory sentencing on rape

Musasa – a Gender Champion and Women’s Organisation in Zimbabwe has been calling for a minimum mandatory sentence on rape to be applied in Zimbabwe.

This year the organisation submitted a petition to the Parliament of Zimbabwe with the request to amend the Criminal Codification Act to make provisions for the minimum mandatory sentence. The Parliament of Zimbabwe accepted and acknowledged the petition.

To that effect, the Parliament of Zimbabwe will host public consultation with the Zimbabwean populace in Beitbridge, Bulawayo, Chiredzi, Gokwe, Kariba,  Masvingo Central, Mutare Central, and Nkayi to hear the views and concerns of the public before making any amendments.

Rotina Mafume Musara, the Advocacy and Communications Officer of Musasa says that this is an important step in the policy-making process where the public views and concerns are taken into consideration.

“As Musasa we encourage the women and youths to participate. We hope this process will be as inclusive as possible. The objective of the public consultation is to gather the views of the public regarding the introduction of the minimum mandatory sentence of rape and other sexual crimes; as well as to seek the input of the people on the specific timeframe that can be considered as the mandatory sentence for rape and sexual crimes,” Mafume Musara said.