Tanzania records rise in rape cases, children among victims

Tanzanian police said on Monday a total of 1,765 rape cases were recorded in the country between January and March, up 180 on the same period last year.

"We recorded 1,585 cases of rape during the same period last year," said Advera Bulimba, a police spokesperson.

Bulimba said children were among the victims and that some more cases went unreported.

"The number of such cases could be even higher than what was reported because several cases went unreported as parents or guardians tend to sort out the matter with the suspects at home," she said.

In the three months, 823 rape suspects have been arrested and brought to court, but many cases "failed to reach conclusion" as parents involved hided the suspects and chose to settle the matter outside the court, which the police spokesperson condemned as illegal.

Bulimba called on the public including parents to cooperate with the police by uncovering rape suspects.

Source: XINHUA