President Mnangagwa signs Criminal Laws Amendment Bill into law, age of consent raised from 16 to 18
Providence Moyo
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s signing of the Criminal Laws Amendment Bill into law has been met with widespread approval from child welfare organizations and human rights advocates in Zimbabwe.
The new law raises the age of consent from 16 to 18, providing stronger protections for minors against sexual exploitation and early marriages.
Matebeleland Council for the Welfare of the Child director, Pulumani Mpofu, praised the legislation, saying, “This law is a major breakthrough in our fight against child abuse. By setting the age of consent at 18, we’re ensuring that our children are safeguarded from predators and forced marriages.”
Khumbulani Maphosa, director of the Matebeleland Institute for Human Rights, echoed Mpofu’s sentiments.
“This law sends a strong message that Zimbabwe will no longer tolerate the exploitation of its children. We commend President Mnangagwa for taking bold action to protect our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.We recognise and appreciate that the law was long overdue. The challenge is to act and concientize the citizens on this law and raise enough awareness to different stakeholders that include, the children, young men, parents, women and church leaders. Raising awareness is the first step towards enforcement because effective decision making processes start with knowledge. Systems need to be put inplace to encourage anonymous reporting. Government has done its bid and now the court is in everyone’s hands”.
The law’s passage follows a Constitutional Court ruling in May 2022, which highlighted the need for greater protections for individuals aged 16 to 18. With this new legislation, Zimbabwe aligns its laws with international standards, introducing harsher penalties for offenders and eliminating defenses based on alleged consent.
UNICEF Zimbabwe is also on record welcoming the legislation, noting that it will contribute to reducing sexual abuse of children and adolescents . According to UNICEF, over a third of girls in Zimbabwe experience sexual violence before the age of 18.
