Rape kits shortage unacceptable

Editorial Comment
REPORTS that there is a widespread shortage of rape kits at the country’s police stations are a cause for serious concern.

REPORTS that there is a widespread shortage of rape kits at the country’s police stations resulting in victims being denied justice while perpetrators remain free to attack again are a cause for serious concern.

The worrying revelation was made at a Victim Friendly Court stakeholders’ meeting held in Gwanda on Wednesday where it was disclosed that the district had no rape kits at the moment because the available one was in Harare.

Rape kits are essential for police investigators to obtain requisite forensic evidence that is vital to back up findings on rape crimes. These kits are used to collect DNA evidence from victims.

A rape kit contains instruments that are used by a doctor to obtain swabs and slides, blood, saliva, pubic hair, fingernails and scrapings (smears) from rape victims which are sent for forensics to identify perpetrators and the results are used in court as evidence.

Stakeholders at the Gwanda meeting noted that some rape cases were thrown out because police had not carried out investigations properly, partly as a result of absence of the kits.

The Gwanda police laboratory for instance has a backlog that has seen results of rape investigations taking three to four months to be processed.

What makes the situation more worrying is that the shortages are coming at a time when cases of rape are said to be on the increase.

At the meeting, regional prosecutor Johannes Tlou noted that the delay in making available forensic results often meant lost justice for rape victims and we could not have put it any better.

The courts cannot rely on incomplete police investigations to determine whether those accused of rape are guilty or not.

Prosecutors would also find it difficult to use such evidence in securing a conviction. That police like other government departments, are under resourced is not debatable, but a question one is tempted to ask is what is more important: Equipping police stations with rape kits or buying of luxury cars for senior police officers.

During the lifespan of the inclusive government, former Finance minister Tendai Biti would expose the fact that police were not remitting most of the money they raised through fines to Treasury.

Police defended their stance saying the government was underfunding them hence their reliance on spot fines from traffic offences.

However, if police lack such basic equipment such as rape kits where is the money going to? Someone has to explain.