DAR ES SALAAM: AS a report shows that children in Kinondoni are the most vulnerable group to sexual abuse, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has identified bribery as one of the factors hindering legal actions against perpetrators.
To address the issue, the anti-corruption watchdog at the Kinondoni Regional Office convened a workshop focusing on workplace corruption.
This time, the workshop targeted social welfare officers from all wards of Kinondoni Municipality to better equip them to address the issue effectively.
At the event held in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam on Thursday, PCCB’s acting Kinondoni Bureau Chief, Christian Nyakizee, quoted a report from Kinondoni Municipality, indicating that of the 41 cases of sexual and gender abuse reported in the 2023/24 fiscal year, 37 children were involved.
ALSO READ: PCCB educates public on bribe effects in elections
Given the role of social welfare officials in the community, he said, the PCCB understands that mishandling such cases can deny justice to people affected by these barbaric acts.
Therefore, it was necessary to empower this group to handle the matter diligently.
The acting Bureau Chief went on to advice the group to avoid receiving gifts from victims or accused individuals so that they remain impartial when handling such cases.
Nyakizee also urged the officials to report such cases to the responsible authorities and adhere to the laws of the country.
He emphasized that it is the responsibility of everyone and every institution to fight corruption by all means for the welfare of the entire society.
“If Tanzanians are aware of the negative consequences of corruption, they will hate it and take action, individually or as institutions,” he insisted.
Gracing the event on behalf of Kinondoni Municipal Director, representative Leah Mzava praised the PCCB for the initiative and suggested that local government leaders at the grassroots level should be involved, as they are often the first to receive such cases in their areas.
On her part, social welfare officer Ms Neema Mwalubilo from Kinondoni stated that one of the challenges they face when dealing with such cases is the tendency of relatives or families of the victims to settle matters outside the legal system.
However, she expressed optimism that the workshop would help them improve their day-to-day duties, especially in handling sexual and gender abuse cases.
The PCCB is taking these measures as the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC)’s 2023 report indicates that child abuse is on the rise and is the leading human rights violation in Tanzania.
The report documented 350 cases of violence against children in 2022 alone, with 81 percent of them being sexual abuse.
Reacting to the findings, Angela Kauleni, Country Director for Save the Children in Tanzania, was quoted as saying: “…we are concerned by the incidences of child abuse occurring at home, in schools, and in communities, perpetrated by parents, teachers, and other guardians who are harming children physically, sexually, and emotionally. We know that only extreme cases make it to the media, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.”
