BULAWAYO - An average of 70 child abuse cases are being reported every month, it has been learnt.
The Chairperson for Childline Bulawayo, Ruth Gomiwa, called upon the community to help curb the problem. “It is alarming to note that there is an increase in the number of child abuse cases in the city. We have been receiving a lot of calls from children who have been abused,” said Gomiwa. Childline Bulawayo recorded an alarming 653 child abuse cases in the period between February and September this year with an average of 70 cases per month. Of the total, 66 were sexual abuse cases, all the victims being girls.
The Director of Childline Zimbabwe, Tara Miller, commended the Bulawayo community for supporting the organisation in the past decade. “I would like to thank the people of Bulawayo for the support they have shown Childline in the past decade. It has not been an easy task maintaining and handling the cases and there is still a long way to go as there is still a lot to be achieved, said Miller.