As government strengthens mechanisms to fight and prevent crimes, defilement continues to top the Gender Based Violence (GBV) crime list with 604 cases registered over the last four months. According to the police GBV statistics, exclusively obtained by The New Times, 1244 cases were recorded between January and April this year, with assault (205) and rape (93) in that order, the other crimes high on the list.

The report indicates that nine women and five men were killed by their spouses in the same period.

The Eastern Province continues to top other parts of the country with 356 cases followed by the Southern Province which recorded 258 cases in the reporting period, while the Western Province recorded least with 154.