Elderly Predators, ZSCA Declares Zero Tolerance as Child Rape Cases Rise

By Evans Jona

MUTARE – Child sexual abuse cases in Zimbabwe are spiraling, with recent national data showing that more than 1,000 juveniles under the age of 16 were raped in a single year, many by people they trusted, including senior citizens.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) 2022 Crime and Justice Report, sexual offences remain among the leading crimes against children, with Manicaland province recording some of the highest numbers of reported cases. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has also consistently highlighted the growing involvement of elderly men in child sexual abuse.

Zimbabwe Senior Citizens Association (ZSCA) national chairman Patrick Ndlovu said his organisation is shocked and disturbed by the trend and will not hesitate to act against elderly perpetrators.

“Senior citizens must be protectors of children, not predators. We are deeply concerned about the rising cases of child sexual abuse and acknowledge with pain that some senior citizens are among the perpetrators,” Ndlovu said.

In January, a 72-year-old man from Murehwa was jailed for 20 years after raping his 11-year-old granddaughter, a case that shocked the community after the family initially tried to cover it up.

Recently in Mutasa District, Manicaland, a 68-year-old village head was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl who had been left in his care, while another 65-year-old elderly man was convicted of repeatedly raping a 10-year-old neighbour while luring her with sweets.

Other disturbing cases included an 80-year-old man from Bikita, Masvingo, who appeared in court in October 2024 for allegedly raping a 9-year-old girl while her parents were away, and a 74-year-old from Chipinge who was sentenced in November 2024 for abusing his 12-year-old step-granddaughter.

Child protection organisations are on record condemning the involvement of senior citizens in child sexual abuse. Childline Zimbabwe said such cases reveal a deep moral crisis and urged communities to speak out.

“Silence only emboldens perpetrators. We must dismantle the culture of shielding elderly abusers simply because of their age or position. Children’s rights must come first,” Childline said in a statement.

The Justice for Children Trust warned that elderly perpetrators often exploit cultural respect for elders to silence victims and their families, calling for harsher mandatory sentencing.

ZSCA said it will launch awareness campaigns across Manicaland, partnering with churches, schools, and child rights groups.

“We are committed to restoring the moral authority of the elderly. No senior citizen should ever be shielded when they commit such heinous crimes,” Ndlovu stressed.