A Total of 97 cases of gender-based violence and abuse were reported across Zanzibar in June 2025, with children comprising the vast majority of victims.
According to Asha Mahfoudh, a Statistician in the Division of Gender and Employment Statistics, children accounted for 85.6 percent of the victims, followed by women at 12.4 percent and men at 2.1 percent.
While the number of reported cases dropped by 9.3 percent, from 107 in May to 97 in June, Mahfoudh noted here yesterday that certain types of abuse—such as public humiliation, pregnancy-related offences, adultery, and sexual harassment—saw an increase.
“On a year-on-year basis, reported incidents declined significantly by 44.3 percent, from 174 in June 2024 to 97 in June 2025,” she said. “However, cases of disappearance showed an upward trend.”
The highest number of cases were reported in West ‘A’ District, with 23 cases (23.7 percent), followed by West ‘B’ with 18 cases (18.6 percent). South District recorded the lowest, with just one case (1.0 percent).
Of the 97 cases reported in June, 82 (84.5 percent) remain under investigation by police. A further 11 cases (11.3 percent) have resulted in formal charges, 2 have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and 2 are currently before the courts.
Mahfoudh added: “All the 17 abuse-related cases filed in the Zanzibar courts are ongoing. From April to June 2025, 30 suspects remained in remand prisons.”
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