Women’s League worry over gender based violence

THE Zanu-PF Women’s League has expressed concern over an increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women saying disharmony in homes contributes towards a dysfunctional society.

The Women’s League statement follows recent statistics released by Gender Links showing that about 68 percent of women in Zimbabwe have experienced GBV in their lifetime, making the country a nation with the third highest prevalence rate of abuse against women in the Sadc region.

In an interview, the deputy secretary for Women’s League, Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, said the party’s women’s wing has dealt with several cases of women and child abuse which were affecting the social fibre.

Cde Moyo, who is also the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo, said the Women’s League was advocating for the strengthening of traditional courts and involvement of community elders infighting abuse.

“Safety nets such as the elderly and traditional courts should be empowered to address issues of men who abuse women and children. For instance a man can beat his wife for being pregnant, saying he is suspicious that he could not be the responsible father,” said Cde Moyo.

“How can you deny responsibility when you’re staying with your wife? Those are some of the cases that we deal with. We then ask ourselves what kind of relationship you want to have with your wife. All those issues we believe can be addressed by the traditional courts who can give direction on how to treat these issues.”

Cde Moyo said children who are born in abusive homes end up becoming social misfits while children who grow up seeing their parents fighting end up emulating their violent nature.

“Some of the male children end up being violent thinking that the only way to live with a woman is abusing her. The female ones also end up living a life of violence always fighting among other women because they didn’t experience peace in their families. All these things become a problem in fabric management of life,” she said.

Cde Moyo said the Women’s League was also advocating for the construction of schools and health centres closer to communities.

She said long distances were a major hindrance to access to social services which are enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

“For instance the Government has constructed many schools but there is still that element of distances that we’re crying about. Education and health, those are social issues that create and develop a person. These facilities should be put closer to people,” Cde Moyo said. @nqotshili