By Gabriel Phiri
Ritual abuse is a brutal form of abuse of children, consisting of
physical, sexual and physiological abuse. Rituals in general are not always
satanic but depending on the motive of the practice makes it evil. However, in
cases of ritual abuse are usually victims suffering the most severe and
longstanding emotional damage from the abuse.
Ritual abuse can be defined as ‘’ the alleged
sexual, murder or any spiritual act that can be harmful to the development of a
child’’, supposedly committed as part a satanic ritual.
Zambia has not been spared from alleged ritual
abuse practises for many years now. We can tell by the stories of
ritual abuse that are all over the Zambian media and children are mostly
victims.
Talking to a child who resides in N’gombe Compound in Lusaka where
an alleged Congolese national was found practicing rituals on children aged 6
to 11 years old said, “we are now living in fear not knowing what tomorrow will bring and holds for as”. “Seeing friends
my age passing through what I can term as hell at a tender age gives me fear”,
he lamented.
The relevant authorities such as the police have to ensure that
people who are practicing these rituals are dealt with. It is also the
responsibility of the community to ensure that children are protected from such
practices. There is need for sensitization targeted at members of the community
including children.
A community
is a source of joy for any child and is important for their development but
lately communities have slowly turned into dangerous places for children. Numerous
children have been abused, others have mysteriously disappeared while others
have been murdered in cold blood. The phrase Today’s children are tomorrow's
leaders is slowly losing its meaning.’’ But the question still remains what are
you as an individual's doing about this case? The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.
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