Zanzibar in fresh move to curb gender-based violence

What you need to know:

Ms Moudline Cyrus Castico, the Labour, Empowerment, Youth, Women and Children minister spelt out the new punishment on Friday October 13 duringthe on-going House of Representatives sitting in the Isles.

Zanzibar.The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has said it would impose a heavy punishment, which includes 30 years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of harassing women and children.

Ms Moudline Cyrus Castico, the Labour, Empowerment, Youth, Women and Children minister spelt out the new punishment on Friday October 13 during the on-going House of Representatives sitting in the Isles.

She was responding to a query raised by Special Seats member of the house Ms Viwe Khamis Abdallah who wanted to know the government’s current efforts in fighting Gender Based Violence (GBV).

In response, the minister said the government was committed to ending GBV but noted that further implementation would depend on the amendment of the new law on the vice.

“We want to stop the incidents of GBV here in the isles, however the government needs more support from members of the house on approving the amendments to be tabled here in the house,” said Ms Castico.

She said, apparently there in an ongoing process to review the law to establish areas where GBV is highly prevalent before the Bill is brought into the House of Representatives for debating.

“We have done a lot to ensure the new law meets the expectations of the people, right now it is on the table of the attorney general for further procedures,” she said.