Minister slams abuse of ‘cheating’ wife
She has also condemned people who were in the habit of taking pictures and recording similar instances instead of helping vulnerable victims who were unable to defend themselves.
GENDER Based Violence (GBV) is a violation of human rights which should not be condoned irrespective of the offence committed, Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri has said. Ms Phiri has condemned a video circulating on social media depicting a man harassing his wife for allegedly committing adultery. She has also condemned people who were in the habit of taking pictures and recording similar instances instead of helping vulnerable victims who were unable to defend themselves. She said there were better channels to air grievances than resorting to violence and breaking the law with impunity. The minister said this in a statement to the Daily Nation yesterday. She said no one was above the law despite the relationship the perpetrator and the victim shared, adding that violence was wrong in all its forms. Ms Phiri called on the police to take necessary action against the perpetrator. She said beginning November 25th to December 10th the country would join the rest of the world in commemorating 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and it’s duriQJ this period that sensitisation programmes would be rolled out in communities on the dangers and repercussions of GBV. She said Zambia had been recognised globally as a champion for the elimination of all forms of sexual and gender based violence, the citizens therefore need to work with government on eliminating this vice. The minister said Government with support from the UN agencies has set up four fast track courts aimed at hastening the judicial process in GBV matters. She cited Lusaka, Kabwe, Choma, and Mongu as some of the districts where the fast track courts were operational. She said since the inception of the courts more than 700 cases have successfully been disposed of. Ms Phiri has urged victims of GBV not to suffer in silence but report all form of violence to relevant institutions to allow the law take its course. She warned that anyone found conniving with perpetrators of violence risks facing the law as well. She asked the woman in the video to take necessary steps and ensure that her husband is answerable to the law for his unruly behaviour.