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Miriam Mangwaya in Chikomba
The absence of a sign language expert here has affected the delivery of justice, especially in sexual abuse cases involving minors with hearing and speech impairments, court officials have said.

Speaking during a Victim Friendly Committee meeting at Chivhu Magistrates’ Court recently, the officials said the communication barrier was affecting the justice delivery system. Regional prosecutor at the Chivhu Magistrates’ Court, Mr Nicholas Mabvongodze said experts in sign language were crucial in the trial process of cases which involved children or adults with speech and hearing impairments.

“Children with hearing and speech impairments may also be victims of sexual abuse and it is difficult for other members who are not trained in sign language to communicate with them and understand what they would be saying. Mr Mabvongodze added: “A person who has no knowledge of sign language may wrongly interpret what the child would be saying and it creates further problems,” he said.

He said the court was relying on Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe, a Harare-based non-governmental organisation, for sign language experts.

“However, the organisation only provides a sign language interpreter in cases involving minors only,” he said. “When the case involves an adult with these challenges, in a sexual abuse case of a minor, without a sign language specialist the trial process becomes difficult.”

Chivhu Regional Magistrate Mrs Fadzai Mutombeni called for awareness campaigns on testifying cases to do with child abuse in courts to enhance justice delivery.

“There are some repeated sexual abuse offences on the same victims because the cases are not reported early,” she said.