'Bribes being paid to sweep rape cases under the carpet' - Charumbira

THE president of the Chiefs' Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, on Thursday vowed traditional leaders would crack the whip on rapists and people who engaged in incest under the guise of culture, saying they were in the same class as murderers.

He said chiefs were going to form a coalition with churches in order to root out fly-by-night sects which were coming up with questionable regulations for their members, resulting in sexual abuse of minors and women.

Chief Charumbira was part of the speakers during the launch of the national campaign against rape where female participants accused traditional leaders of taking young and underage girls as wives.

He said traditional leaders who did that should be prosecuted.

"Whites removed criminal jurisdiction from traditional leaders and now we hear there are bribes being paid to law enforcement agents to sweep rape cases under the carpet or give lighter sentences," Chief Charumbira said.

"Chiefs' courts should be strengthened because we derive our powers from God and as chiefs, we are going to crack the whip and facilitate nationwide investigations on people who sexually abuse children and women in the guise of culture."

He added: "If there are any chiefs who are marrying minors, that is not culture. It is a barbaric anachronism and we have to instigate investigations and bring those criminals to book. That is why we experience droughts and bad omens. It is not part of humanity to have a father impregnating a daughter. The courts and Zimbabwe Republic Police should give us information on such criminals in our communities so that we deal with them as chiefs."

Pastor Goodwill Shana, who is the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, apologised for all rape cases perpetrated by people masquerading as men of the cloth.

"Rape is rape. There is no holy rape. The problem is that leaders of churches are also perpetrators of rape and they should be arrested," he said.

"We would like to caution people that they should look for churches with good governance structures that are accountable. How can you allow someone to pray for you while undressed? We cannot have legislation on spirituality, but there should be a code of ethics which governs our church leaders so that when they go astray, we dismantle them."

Prophetess Rutendo Wutawunashe of Family of God said rape emanated from Satan, adding women should know they were worthy as human beings and not accept any forms of violence on them.