Mutare City Council adopts multi-sectoral approach to fight GBV

MUTARE City Council has adopted a multi-sectoral approach to fight Gender Based Violence (GBV), with the aim to provide a comprehensive and coordinated response to survivors.

Speaking after a 16km walk organised by the local authority last week on Friday, Acting Mayor, Councillor Sekai Mukodza said the multi-sectoral approach will also help prevent and address the root causes of such violence.

She said the approach involves the collaboration of various stakeholders such as the police, health sector, justice system, civil society and community leaders. Their involvement in the march was evident that fighting GBV will be successful in the province.

“Mutare City Council recognises that GBV is a serious violation of human rights and a threat to the development and peace of the city. Therefore, it is committed to ensuring that all forms of GBV are eliminated, and that survivors are supported and empowered. Council should be hailed for spearheading activities such as this one with a view to end GBV.

“Since its launch, the international 16 days Against Activism Against GBV event has demonstrated solidarity among different nationalities around the world to stop GBV and to create tools and concrete actions to implement promises made to eliminate the menace.

“The dates chosen for the campaign were for a good reason. The very first day, November 25, marks the International Day against Violence against Women and December 10 is the International Human Rights Day. This was done to symbolically link GBV and human rights, and to emphasise that such violence is a violation of human rights. May I be quick to remind you, however, that in as much as we commit and intensify action against GBV during these 16 days, it is our duty to ensure that action against GBV is effective 365, 24 hours of the day and every minute,” she said.

Councillor Mukodza said through the local authority’s Gender Desk sub-committee which comprises the gender focal persons from all its departments, council has since 2014 joined Government, developmental partners and the international community in raising awareness, influencing behaviour change and securing high level commitment to end GBV.

“Councillors and management have offered great support towards this noble campaign. This stance adopted by council is a deliberate effort and act to fight GBV as a societal issue, and not a domestic one because this scourge can only be defeated through collective action of both men and women. You will realise therefore, as evidenced by stakeholders from various sectors here present that council’s approach in fighting Gender Based Violence is multi-sectoral, just as what Government has encouraged, and as per this year’s theme, we are “Uniting and investing to prevent Gender based violence”,” she said.

Councillor Mukodza also said learning from the successes of previous campaigns, there is still need to continuously engage both victims and perpetrators of GBV in order to change their mindsets, prevent future incidents and to actively assist non-perpetrators who are at risk of carrying out GBV.

“This year, and in the years to come, we will continue to build on this approach and continue to position GBV as a societal issue,” she said.

After the 16km march which started in Zimunya and ended at the Civic Centre, the event was concluded by the releasing of more than 100 orange balloons that signified council’s commitment to the fight against GBV and upholding human rights.