Zambians demand harsher penalties amid surge in child rape cases

Hundreds of Zambians took to the streets of Lusaka in a powerful demonstration against a disturbing rise in child rape cases that has shocked the nation in recent months.

Sparked by several harrowing reports, the protest reflected widespread anger over the brutality of the incidents—some of which resulted in the deaths of young victims. Among the most distressing cases was that of a father allegedly sexually assaulting his seven-year-old daughter while she was undergoing cancer treatment in hospital.

Other reports included a gang assault on a five-year-old and a case where a father was convicted of raping his six-year-old child, infecting her with a sexually transmitted infection.

In parliament, Zambia’s Justice Minister, Princess Kasune-Zulu, expressed deep outrage and proposed radical reforms—including the castration of offenders. "This goes beyond just the law—our society must ask itself how we got here," she said, decrying the erosion of moral values.

On Thursday, civil society groups, artists, and concerned citizens marched through Lusaka, urging the government to impose tougher punishments. A petition delivered to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango called for an amendment to the law that would prevent suspects in child rape cases from being granted bail.

Vice-President Nalumango acknowledged the urgency of the crisis, emphasizing that it requires a collective national response.

Data from the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation paints a grim picture: in the final quarter of 2024 alone, over 10,000 gender-based violence cases involving children were recorded—most of them in Lusaka. Additionally, more than 32,000 individuals sought counselling for GBV last year, according to police statistics.

The protest signals a growing demand for justice reform and protection for Zambia’s most vulnerable—its children.