Vice President Mphoko insists rapists must be castrated

Rape cases on the rise … VP Phelekezela Mphoko

Addressing delegates at the just ended Zanu PF annual people’s national conference in Victoria Falls weekend, Mphoko was adamant the sentence must be extended to those who sexually violate women of above 65.

“It is quite saddening to note that of late reported rape cases have been escalating,” Mphoko said without giving statistics.

“This goes against the grain of our national rectitude and human dignity.”

Mphoko said rape offences on infants as young as a year old had become rampant, describing the development as a “social menace bedevilling our nation and a threat to mankind”.

“As a result,” he continued, “I would like to make yet another proposal that anyone who rapes a day old child up to 16-year-old should be castrated.

“Anyone who rapes a 16-year-old child to 65 years old woman should be imprisoned for life and anyone who rapes women aged 65 years and above and other vulnerable groups should also be castrated.”

Mphoko who, as VP, is also a law maker, did not mention if he intended to push this through parliament.

Mphoko’s demands for tougher sentences on rapists follow similar calls he made at the First Lady, Grace Mugabe’s Masvingo rally beginning of this month.

Mphoko has also called on rapists to have their genitals removed.

President Robert Mugabe and his wife have also previously spoken tough about an offence which has often attracted stiffer sentences, the most memorable being the 40 year jail term slapped a year ago on disgraced Harare clergy, Martin Gumbura, founder of the independent End Time Message Church.

In her case, the First Lady has demanded the beheading of rapists.