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Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
CAN a child below 16 and above 12, as the law currently provides, really consent to sex? If you disagree, how would you want an individual who violated your child to be punished? The Chronicle spoke to parents in Bulawayo about their reactions to Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana’s suggestion that children who wish to marry their abusers should be spared jail, and that girls mature fast and are therefore perfectly capable of giving consent at a young age.

We asked the parents two questions:

• Do they think that their children below 16 years and above 12 years are capable of consenting to sex?
• What would be the ideal punishment or charge for a person who would have violated their child?

Gugulethu Moyo, Teacher
Most 12-year-olds haven’t matured, they can hardly make a decision on their own and at such a stage where they’re nearing teenage-hood. Their hormones are beginning to prepare for adulthood but they’re not adults.

If we’re saying they’re grown-ups, then let’s allow them to vote. We can’t make laws based on feelings of renegades. We’ve Grade 1 pupils who’re very problematic when it comes to going to school in the morning. So for us to say let’s change the age of going to school because we’ve others who don’t want to go is the same argument given by the Prosecutor- General.

We’ve 12-year-olds who’re sexually active or are capable of ‘consenting’ but we can’t make a law from those few, disadvantaging the majority. It doesn’t work that way. The law is condoning abuse. These abusers must be sent to prison and be abused by other prisoners so that they learn their lesson well.

Rosemary Zodwa Moyo, Unemployed
Firstly, we’re exposing young girls to infection, HIV and other related illnesses. Secondly, they’ve to get an education, we’ve to make sure that we educate our girl child. At least if we say they’ve started early, it could be between 16 and 18.

According to the law of God, they’ve to stay pure until they get married and introduced to family. They must look for education and serve God.

The ideal punishment would be to send the offender to prison for a minimum of 15 years.

Sibongile Ncube, Mother-of-Two-Girls
Girls at that age aren’t yet mature, they can hardly tell if something has long or short term effects, they’re satisfied with what’s there at that moment.

I feel pained to hear that a 12-year-old is already involved in sexual activity. It’s rather too early.

Imagine my son bringing a 12-year or 13-year-old girl as a bride. What can she do around the home? They’re not mature, she’d still be a child in every sense. A young woman can be said to be mature and able to make rational decisions at 20.

As for the punishment, I think 15 years is deterrent enough.

Mununuri Maisva, Resident of North End
I think it’s on the lower side. Some 12-year-olds are in Grade 7 and allowing them to be active at such a tender age is destroying their future. At that age, they’re still children who need guidance from parents, therefore they can’t consent to sex fully knowing its implications.

For sex offenders who are taking advantage of the young girls, 10 years is a fair sentence.

Patience Ngwenya, Resident of Pumula South
A 12-year-old is considered to be a minor. They’ve to be in school enjoying childhood and not indulging in sexual activity. It really can’t be normal that a 12-year-old can be said to be consenting to sex.

That age isn’t capable of decision-making, they don’t know what’s right or wrong.

For destroying a child’s future, they must be sentenced to at least 15 years in jail.

E Dube
A 12-year-old has no mind of their own. It’s not love per se, these young girls are attracted by small things such as sweets and money to engage in sexual activity. In a nutshell, girls aged below 16 are immature.

David Masinge, Parent
People mustn’t be allowed to play around with our children. A 12-year-old is a Grade 7 pupil. What does a grown man want in a small child like that?

A 12-year-old is a kid, which means all the decisions they make are childish. They can’t be taken seriously, so one can’t stand tall and say that child consented. They must rot in prison.

Mark Mlangeni
At 18, we can say that a person has fully matured, they’re able to consent wholly aware of the implications of their decisions. But to think that a primary school-going child has consented is out of order.

These laws must be scrutinised and reviewed, taking into consideration the people that it affects most because we’re leaving children at the mercy of paedophiles.