Deputy national police spokesperson Harry Namwaza has said, defilement cases have dropped from 833 recorded between January to June in 2023 to 700 in the same period this year.

Namwaza has attributed this to stiffer punishments beside raising awareness about the vice.

But Child rights activist Memory Chisenga says they are looking for a day when courts will hand life sentences to the perpetrators of sexual violence against children.

According to the police, between January to June this year, cases of rape have also reduced to 71 against 110 recorded in 2023 the same period.