mbulelo smpofu
Patrick Chitumba, patrick.chitumba@chronicle.co.zw
STAKEHOLDERS in Midlands Province have strongly condemned gender-based violence (GBV) and child marriages, which persistently plague its districts and the rest of the country.
On Friday, the province marked the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Gweru, joining the global campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10.
In the province, mining hotspots like Shurugwi, Kwekwe, and Zvishavane have recorded more GBV cases.
Speaking at the event, Women Affairs, Gender, Small to Medium Enterprise Development provincial administrative officer, Ms Zodwa Chibi, said women were the major victims of GBV and condemned perpetrators of child marriages.
“The phenomenon is widespread, occurring across all socio-economic cultural backgrounds and regions in the country. The Multiple Indicator Cluster survey of 2019 shows that 34 percent of girls in Zimbabwe are married before the age of 18,” she said.
“We are happy we have the Marriages Act, which criminalises child marriages.”
Ms Chibi said child marriages were increasing with some cases resulting in the death of young girls while giving birth.
“This is unacceptable and what is disheartening to note is that in most cases, parents and relatives are found to be at the centre, either as perpetrators or as facilitators of abuse,” she said.
Ms Chibi said often perpetrators are trusted fathers and other relatives, especially in cases of abuse of people with disabilities.
She said GBV prevention initiatives not only address immediate harm but also challenges deeply entrenched norms, attitudes, and power dynamics that perpetuate inequality.
“We are happy to note that the Government remains committed to ending GBV in all its forms and efforts are being made to ensure that prevention and response services are available throughout the country,” said Ms Chibi
This year’s commemorations are being held under the theme: “Unite to end violence against women and girls.” This resonates well with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of ‘leaving no one and no place behind’.
The theme calls for support of different intervention strategies to stop violence from occurring in the first place. Mr Malungelo Maduma, the Gweru Magistrates Court principal interpreter said when the High Court was on circuit in the Midlands Province in August, most cases involved the murder of women.
“It’s a pity that women in this day and age continue experiencing some form of GBV from us men. My advice is that women should not let abusive spouses off the hook, as some cases have continued leading to the death of women,” he said.
Midlands State University (MSU)’s gender institute researcher, Dr Smart Mhembwe, said GBV was on the increase and there is a need to involve men in the fight to end it.
“There is a need for collective efforts if GBV is to end, and that is the role we all have to play as a community. Women in communities are encouraged to come out and report perpetrators of violence because if they don’t, GBV and early childhood marriages will continue being recorded,” she said.
Gender expert and Women Coalition of Zimbabwe Gweru deputy chairperson, Ms Tendai Marobana, said it was worrying that women do not speak out when they are abused.
“Cases of violence continue increasing despite the fight by many organisations. There is a need to break the silence,” she said.
Ms Marobana said there is also a need for women’s empowerment to promote sustainable development in line with the Beijing Declaration and plan of action.
Saywhat Mugota/Ixhiba Midlands chairperson Mr Leniel Tapiwa Gava said men were also getting physically abused and raped by women but because of fear of stigmatisation the cases are not being reported.
“They are afraid of being perceived as weak and being ridiculed when they try to open up about these issues. No one is willing to believe them, and they are even mocked and laughed at,” he said.
