THOHOYANDOU - Hundreds of people gathered at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday, to declare a war against alarming rape incidents in the Thohoyandou policing areas.

During the function, which was organised by the provincial Department of Safety and Security, different members of the community, including traditional leaders, clergymen, Network Violence Against Women and Children, Munna Ndi nnyi, the justice system and different sections from the police force joined the provincial commissioner Calvin Sengani in this campaign.

In their speeches, all speakers condemned rape incidents as acts of cowards who are ruining the future of innocent women and children. Perpetrators of such crimes shy away from proposing single ladies and women.

Rapists who raped children and old mothers with the warped believe of getting an Aids cure were also slammed. Traditional leader Takalani Mathivha also dismissed rumours that having sex with young children and old women can cure HIV/Aids. In his speech, Commissioner Sengani said children need to be treated with care as they are the future leaders and mothers of this world while adding that women, young and old also deserve the utmost respect as they brought us to this world.

Sengani also urged the community to report an act of rape and abuse in the community before it is too late.

Mr Mutshinya Nemakonde who spoke on-behalf of Munna Ndi Nnyi said they were against any man who rapes a woman. Mutshinya also said they are against family violence of which some are committed by women against their husbands. This campaign was part of the provincial programme where the commissioner goes around the province visiting areas that are mostly affected by incidents of rape.