Minister Monica Mutsvangwa
By Brenda Mazhambe
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon Monica Mutsvangwa, has expressed outrage over the rape of a 13-year-old girl allegedly committed by a tout at a bus terminus in Harare.
In a statement, Minister Mutsvangwa described the attack as “utterly despicable and repulsive,” warning that such acts of violence against women and girls would not be tolerated.
“This horrific act of violence against a vulnerable child is an alarming reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat violence against women and girls, especially in public spaces,” she said.
She pledged her ministry’s full support for law enforcement agencies investigating the incident, vowing that the perpetrator would face justice. She also stressed the importance of public vigilance, urging citizens to reject the “bystander effect” and to protect vulnerable members of society.
“Our hearts go out to her and her family during this difficult time. As government, we are committed to ensuring the girl receives ongoing support to help her heal from such a traumatic experience,” Hon Mutsvangwa said.
The minister called for stronger safety measures at bus terminals and other public areas where travellers, particularly women and children, may be at risk.
Police are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Touts have long been a menace at commuter ranks, where they harass passengers, use foul language, and openly abuse drugs and other substances. They have also been blamed for triggering fare hikes during public holidays and peak travel hours, exploiting commuters when demand is high.
Only a few days ago, the Zimbabwe Republic Police arrested more than 100 touts in Harare in a blitz aimed at restoring order at the city’s transport hubs. The arrests have fuelled fresh calls for touts to be removed entirely from bus ranks, with critics arguing that their unregulated intermediary role offers no real benefit to passengers and instead perpetuates chaos and lawlessness.
