Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, smoyo@chronicle.co.zw
A new One-Stop Centre for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors opened its doors at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo yesterday.
The opening comes in light of alarming statistics, revealing that 66 women are raped every month in the Matabeleland region alone, and in Bulawayo, three women are violated weekly.
This new facility offers comprehensive support services to survivors of GBV. These include temporary shelter, healthcare, legal aid, counselling, psychosocial support, and protection.
By bringing these services under one roof, this centre aims to enhance privacy and reduce victims’ trauma. They will no longer need to navigate complex hospital procedures.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa officially launched the One-Stop Centre.
The event also commemorated the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Judith Ncube, expressed her concern about GBV, acknowledging the struggles that girls and women continue to endure in the region.
The theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is “Towards 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: UNITE to End Violence Against Women and Girls”.
“Statistics from the Regional Courts show that about 66 rape cases are recorded from different areas monthly in the Matabeleland region. In Bulawayo metropolitan province, at least three rape cases are recorded weekly, usually perpetrated by close relatives and neighbours. The majority of GBV cases do not see the light of day as they are not reported,” said Minister Ncube.
The opening of the One-Stop Centre is a significant milestone that will greatly improve service delivery for survivors of GBV in the province and beyond.
Minister Ncube noted that the theme of the 16 Days of Activism calls on the Government, civil society, the private sector, and individuals to reflect on the progress made towards achieving the goals of the Beijing Declaration, adopted in 1995.
“Reflecting more on the theme, as Bulawayo province we can safely say for 2024 we made a milestone achievement by ensuring that survivors of GBV get essential services in a convenient, confidential, and dignified way through the One-Stop Centre being commissioned today. This structure is a great achievement for us as it will serve the whole of Bulawayo, surrounding areas of Matabeleland, and beyond,” said Minister Ncube.
She explained that the new facility will encourage more survivors to report GBV incidents, leading to improved justice and access to essential services like legal aid, medical care, and counselling.
The One-Stop Centre will provide a safe, private space for survivors, eliminating the need to visit multiple service providers and reducing the risk of further trauma.
“I want to urge Bulawayo residents to develop a culture of reporting abuse so that perpetrators are dealt with by the law. This is the only way to ensure we keep our women and girls safe from violence. The establishment of this Centre will augment already existing efforts in place to respond to GBV,” she said.
In her keynote address, Minister Mutsvangwa said the centre was the eighth facility established by the Government, following those in Rusape, Gweru, Gwanda, Bindura, Chinhoyi, Epworth, and Masvingo.
“In total, it is the 18th One-Stop Centre, including those set up by various stakeholders across Zimbabwe. This is indeed a remarkable achievement by the Government of Zimbabwe and its partners in an endeavour to facilitate the provision of comprehensive GBV response services to survivors,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said GBV is currently one of the major challenges facing the country, and it violates fundamental human rights and impedes the social and economic progress of communities.
This issue also has a detrimental impact on the health and social well-being of survivors. Sadly, she said, Zimbabwe has witnessed a significant rise in GBV cases over the years.
“The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2019 reports that 49,4 percent of women aged between 15 and 49 years have experienced either emotional, physical, or sexual violence at some point in life.
“It is profoundly disheartening to recognise that countless individuals continue to suffer in silence, primarily due to the fear of victimisation and the potential for secondary abuse,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said the stigma surrounding GBV often discourages victims from reaching out for support, leaving them isolated and vulnerable. The silence can perpetuate cycles of violence, as victims may feel trapped in their circumstances without a safe avenue for expression or assistance.
Certain service institutions, she said, have complex structures that exacerbate the situation.
These facilities are often situated far from the communities they serve, and also lack empathetic personnel who create a safe and welcoming atmosphere for survivors.
This poses obstacles for victims when seeking help, which can result in them being discouraged from reporting their ordeal. Such obstacles include insufficient staff training, unfeeling personnel, and logistical difficulties that make accessing services a daunting task.
“The One-Stop Centres ensure access to holistic services (health, psychosocial support, legal, and police services) for survivors under one roof at no cost, whilst providing a confidential and friendly environment that empowers victims to break their silence and report gender-based violence cases.
“I am also proud to say the One-Stop Centre model is one of the best practices globally, implemented by Zimbabwe to respond to the needs of survivors of Gender-Based Violence. Commissioning this One-Stop Centre is therefore meant to amplify the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV campaign while at the same time showcasing some of the progressive work that the country is doing in addressing GBV in line with the call to action by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
