TABLE OF CONTENTS
GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS ..................................................................................................... v
LIST OF LEGISLATION AND CASES REFERRED TO ...................................................................vi
1.
2.
3.
4.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND. ........................................................................... 1
DEFINING THE AGE OF CONSENT.................................................................................. 1
WHAT IS THE AGE OF CONSENT IN ZIMBABWE? … ....................................................... 1
EXTRA-MARITAL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IN THE CONTEXT OF SECTION 70 OF
THE CRIMINAL CODE ................................................................................................... 3
5.
SECTION 64 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE……. ..................................................................... 4
5.1 Does our law create a form of partial consent? ........................................................... 4
5.2 Gendered nature of sexual offences in Zimbabwe ...................................................... 5
6.
HOW DO OTHER COUNTRIES FARE WITH THE AGE OF CONSENT? ............................... 6
7.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WITH THE AGE OF CONSENT IN ZIMBABWE
AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS? ......................................................................................... 8
8.
ACCESS TO SRHS AND THE CURRENT AGE OF CONSENT: ARE THEY
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE? .............................................................................................. 11
8.1 Legislation ................................................................................................................. 11
8.2 Protection of children from medical negligence ........................................................ 17
9.
SEXUAL INTERCOURSE INVOLVING TWO YOUNG PERSONS ........................................ 18
10. THE 16-18 AGE GROUP .............................................................................................. 23
10.1 Close-in-age exemptions ......................................................................................... 24
11. THE STATUTORY DEFENCE IN SECTION 70 CASES ....................................................... 24
12. THE CHILDREN’S AMENDMENT BILL, 2017 ................................................................. 31
13. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 33
iv