Zimbabwean minister warns against tourism-related sexual abuse of children

Zimbabwe is committed to protecting children from all forms of commercial sexual abuses that are on the rise in Africa's travel and tourism industry, a cabinet minister said Friday.

Tourism minister Walter Mzembi was quoted by state news agency New Ziana as saying that the increase in travel and tourism in Africa had multiplied chances for children to be subject to travelling sex offenders.

Mzembi made the remarks while launching a global report on sexual exploitation of children in the sector.

"It is my commitment ... to bring together all stakeholders from the public and private sectors and the civil society to ensure that as we welcome tourism and travel in our beautiful countries, our children are protected from any form of commercial sexual exploitation," he said.

The global report was produced through a research commissioned by ECPAT, an international non-governmental organization seeking to end child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

The report found that sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism was on the rise in Africa.

The explosion of the internet and mobile technology has been blamed for affording perpetrators anonymity and hidden pathways to groom children and seduce them via social media and internet games, the report noted.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit, a total of 7,279 cases of sexual offences against children were recorded between January and September this year.

Meanwhile, Childline, an organization that offers counseling to abused children in the country, says at least 6,810 cases of child abuse were reported to them between January and June this year, a 56-percent increase year-on-year. Endit