Two opposition Parliamentarians in Mufulira on the Copperbelt have revealed that they will in the next sitting of parliament move a private members motion bill that seeks, amongst other things, to make defilement a non bailable offence.
And in a related development, women’s groupings in Mufulira will in the course of the week stage a mass demonstration to express their misgivings on the increasing cases of child-defilement that have rocked the border town in the recent weeks.
The two Members of parliament (MP) that are expected to push for the stiffer bill against defilers are Patriotic Front (PF) Kantanshi member, Yamfwa Mukanga and her counterpart, Marjory Masiye from Mufulira Central Constituency.
The two MPs disclosed this during a meeting held at the Mufulira Council committee room today.
The meeting, which was called to discuss the increasing cases of defilement incidents in the district, was also attended by amongst other people MMD District Women’s Affairs Chairperson Astridah Chibwe and Mufulira Deputy Mayor Dorothy Mwamba.
Several mothers and concerned members of the public who have had their children
defiled also attended the meeting.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Mukanga observed that a stiffer punishment against child defilers was needed so as to protect the girl child, adding that the current law on defilement was too weak.
The PF MP lamented that cases of child defilement in Mufulira were on the increase
especially around the peri-urban community.
Mr. Mukanga noted that what was of particular concern was that defilement cases were
being perpetrated and done by people with money.
He observed that although perpetrators of child defilement could be jailed up to 25 years in prison, the sentence was too lenient.
Mr. Mukanga has since appealed to lawyers to consider offering free legal representation to victims of defilement, adding that the majority of people were too poor to hire a legal expert.
And Mufulira Central PF Marjory Masiye said there was every need for increased
sensitization on defilement amongst the youth, especially in schools and churches.
Ms. Masiye said the boy child as well should be protected from soldomy.
She has since appealed to the courts of law to expedite the trial of defilement cases that were brought before them so that justice in such cases was not delayed.
And Mufulira Deputy Mayor Dorothy Mwamba said women in the district will soon form a
pressure group that will speak on behalf of residents and will amongst other things educate residents on defilement and the need to report such cases to police.
ZANIS
