Moffat Mungazi
MANICALAND is one of the provinces with high prevalence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases.
Statistics at hand shows that the province has a significant number of reported GBV cases, including rape and child marriages.
Rape cases have increased from 4 450 in 2010 to 8 069 in 2018, with a concerning rise in cases involving minors, while the prevalence for child marriages in the province is estimated at 30 percent.
These numbers highlight the need for concerted efforts to address GBV in Manicaland.
The Zimbabwe National Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (2023-2030) and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10, provide comprehensive framework for preventing and responding to GBV.
There is need to mobilise communities, organisations, and Government to take action against GBV, support survivors and advocate for their rights.
GBV affects everyone, regardless of age, sex, or socioeconomic status, and by working together, communities can share the responsibility of preventing and responding to this cancer.
When Government, individuals, communities and organisations collaborate, they can achieve more than they could alone.
A collective effort can lead to a greater impact in preventing GBV and supporting survivors.
When communities take ownership of GBV prevention and response, they are more likely to develop solutions that are tailored to their specific needs and context.
We need to help each other to break silence and stigma around GBV.
GBV often thrives in silence and secrecy, but when communities come together, it is easy to break the veil of secrecy and stigma surrounding GBV.
Survivors can be encouraged to speak out and seek help.
Communities can provide vital support to GBV survivors, including emotional support, practical assistance, and connecting them with essential services.
By addressing the root causes of GBV, such as harmful gender norms and power imbalances, communities can work towards preventing future cases of GBV while promoting gender equality.
Eradicating GBV is essential for promoting gender equality, and when communities work together to prevent GBV, they are also promoting a culture of equality and respect, fostering a culture of non-violence.
By working together to prevent GBV, communities can foster a culture of non-violence, where everyone can live without fear of violence or abuse.
Communities can play a crucial role in holding perpetrators of GBV accountable for their actions, ensuring that they face the consequences of their behaviour, thus creating a safer, more just society for everyone.
Together, we can create a world where everyone lives free from violence and fear!
We commend Government and its partners for working together to engage men and boys in the prevention of GBV, recognising that they play a critical role in transforming harmful gender norms.
This includes training programmes that focus on positive masculinity, healthy relationships, and non-violent conflict resolution.
Initiatives are being implemented to provide support services for GBV survivors, including counselling, medical care, and legal assistance.
Community-based organisations are also working to raise awareness about GBV and promote a culture of zero tolerance.
Efforts are also being made to collaborate with local authorities, traditional leaders, and community members to prevent GBV and support survivors.
This includes training for law enforcement officials and community leaders on GBV response and prevention. While progress is being made, ongoing efforts are necessary to eradicate GBV in Manicaland.
It requires a sustained commitment from individuals, organisations, and authorities to create a society that values and respects the rights of all individuals. Zimbabwe Gender Commission, is one of the five Independent Commissions established in terms of Sections 232 and 245 of the Constitution and operationalised through the Gender Commission Act, Chapter 10:31.
Its overall responsibility is to facilitate the promotion of gender equality as well as ensuring that the gender equality provisions of the Constitution are adhered to.
The commission should be hands-on the ground, monitor issues concerning gender equality to ensure equality as provided for in the Constitution, to investigate possible violations of rights relating to gender; to receive and consider complaints from the public and to take appropriate action as well as conducting research into issues relating to gender and social justice, and to recommend changes to laws and practices that perpetrate discrimination based on gender.
We also urge Government to align the marriage laws to the constitutional provision for minimum age of marriage of 18 years, and call upon all survivors of GBV to report to the police or Zimbabwe Gender Commission or any other institutions which can offer the necessary assistance.
The message against GBV and child marriages should continue to ring loud in our lives even after these 16 Days of Activism Against GBV.
