A TOP government official has urged police to be ruthless when dealing with perpetrators of gender-based violence, mainly rapists.

Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba made the call at a gender-based violence workshop in Mutare yesterday, saying she was worried over the surge in rape cases in the province.

Gwaradzimba told participants, among them Chimanimani West MP Nokhutula Matsikenyere and Mutasa North MP Chido Madiwa, that during the COVID-19 pandemic, her office had received scary statistics on gender-based violence.

“I am receiving scary statistics on gender-based violence during this COVID-19 period.

I am urging police to be ruthless when dealing with issues to do with gender-based violence.