Isles gets tough on child abusers


From ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar, 

ZANZIBAR is to impose tougher measures to curb child abuse, and both Isles President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, and Second-Vice President, Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi have raised concern over the increasing number of such incidents.

Speaking at different occasions over the weekend here, Dr Shein and Ambassador Iddi have directed authorities concerned with children welfare to spare no efforts in tracing down offenders.

''This is a disgrace to Zanzibar. Why is child abuse increasing? You (leaders) should probe the menace and involve sociologists in this,'' Dr Shein ordered when he met with district and regional leaders in North Unguja last Friday during his tour of the region.

Statistics show North Unguja region leads in child abuse cases particularly rape, molestation, and neglect, and Ambassador Iddi appealed to the judiciary to minimize delays and bureaucracy in handling rape cases.

In his speech at the opening of a special clinic for rape victims at Mnazi Mmoja main Hospital in Zanzibar, the Second Vice-President said rape cases should be speeded up. The clinic has been dubbed ‘one 'top centre.'

President Shein hailed the Ministry of Social Welfare, Youths, Children, and Women development for establishing the clinic through the support from UK-'Save the Children,' and UNICEF.

According to Ms Zainab Mohamed, Minister responsible for Children, the 24-hour service clinic has a convergence of the Police, medical officers, counsellors, and lawyers, with the objective to minimizing delays and speeding up rape cases.

The minister said that out of 3,116 cases of child abuse mainly rape, recorded between 2006 and this year, less than one-hundred were dealt with in court to the final judgment.