4, 998 GBV cases recorded in 2016 first quarter

The country recorded 4,998 cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 4,615 cases during the same period last year.

Zambia Police Deputy Spokesperson Ray Hamoonga says this translates in an increase of 383 cases giving a percentage of 7.7 percent.

Ray Hamoonga

Mr. Hamoonga says the figures show that Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of cases of defilement with 365 representing 52 percent, while Copperbelt province recorded 69 cases, with Central province recording 55 cases, while Western province recorded the least number of defilement cases with nine.

He says of the 4,998 GBV cases reported, 720 cases went to court during the first quarter of 2016 representing 14.4 percent, adding that of the 720 cases, 113 resulted in conviction, eight acquittals, 91 withdrawals while 508 cases are still pending in court.

He adds that about 2, 581 cases were withdrawn from the Police stations due to lack of evidence, insufficient evidence, withdraws by the complainants, false on inquiry and closed undetected.

And Mr. Hamoonga has encouraged men who are GBV victims, to rise to the occasion and report such abuse cases to the Victim Support Unit and other law enforcement agencies.