LUSAKA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Zambia saw an increase in gender-based violence cases in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year, police said on Wednesday.
Figures released by the Zambia Police Service show that the country recorded 5,464 cases of gender-based violence during the period compared to 4,998 during the same period last year, representing a 8.5 percent increase.
Esther Mwaata-Katongo, the police spokesperson, said the country recorded 24 murder cases related to gender-based violence, compared to 13 during the same period last year.
She, however, said most of the gender-based violent cases were defilement cases, representing about 11.5 percent.
Zambia has continued recording an increase in gender-based violence despite concerted efforts to curb the vice.
Last year, the country had 18,540 gender-based violence cases, a 2.4 percent rise from 18,088 cases in 2015.
