By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
KARIBA – A 48-year-old local man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on charges of raping his pregnant daughter-in-law.
Joshua Zuwaki was arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and faces three counts of rape, contravening Section 65(a)(1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23.
He appeared before Magistrate Moblessing Mahoso and was remanded in custody until his next hearing scheduled for September 10 at the Karoi Regional Magistrate Court.
Prosecutor Nyasha Paundi outlined the state’s case, alleging that the crimes took place at house number 2582 in Batonga, Kariba, during August 2024.
Zuwaki is accused of “knowingly and intentionally” having sexual intercourse without consent with Lucia Karambakuwa.
This case emerges against a backdrop of a deeply concerning rise in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) within family units across Zimbabwe.
Experts report a significant increase in familial abuse, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a recent Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) Action Indaba on Gender-Based Violence in Harare, Principal Public Prosecutor Tracey Mundanga from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) expressed alarm over the trend.
“The father-daughter rapes are on the increase, and you’ll be surprised, father-son aggravated sexual assault cases are also rising,” she stated, highlighting the escalation of abuse within trusted family structures.
These observations were corroborated by Superintendent Tanga of the ZRP’s Victim Friendly Unit, who revealed that police are currently recording an average of five to six cases daily involving fathers, stepfathers, uncles, or other male relatives sexually abusing children.
“Of late, we have been receiving an average of five to six cases every day. . . Fathers have become the main perpetrators,” she noted.
Advocates stress that many such cases go unreported due to fear, stigma, and economic dependency, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
Mundanga also pointed to economic hardships driving people towards religious spaces, some of which have unfortunately become environments for exploitation.
As the Kariba community reels from this incident, it has intensified calls for stronger protective measures for vulnerable individuals and more robust mechanisms to ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
The ongoing SGBV crisis remains a critical issue demanding urgent and concerted action from all sectors of society.
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