Eastern province has from January 2025, to date, recorded over 200 defilement cases. Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Robertson Mweemba revealed that a total of 209 defilement cases were recorded by December 29. “During the period under review, 209 defilement cases were reported from various divisions in the region,” he said.
Mr Mweemba explained that of these cases, 86 suspects were arrested, a few were undetected, while others are still pending,” he said. He added that during the period under review, 75 cases were taken to court, 10 cases were convicted, and one case was acquitted while 64 cases are awaiting trial. Mr Mweemba cited a number of contributing factors to continued reports of defilement among them, rituals, myths and misconception, as well as poverty.
“There are a number of factors that contribute to these cases, and these include myths and misconceptions surrounding the vice, poverty and rituals involving sexual cleansing among others,” he said. He further indicated that female juveniles are mostly left unattended to by some parents and guardians thereby exposing them to unscrupulous individuals. Mr Mweemba acknowledged that the figures were alarming adding that these were reported figures but that more defilement cases go unreported.
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