The Sunday Mail
Tanyaradzwa Rusike
MEN should be included in deliberations for fighting Gender Based Violence (GBV) so that homes can be a safer place for women, Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga has said.
She made the remarks at the official launch of Love Shouldn’t Hurt Campaign organised by Population Solutions for Health in conjunction with the Swedish Embassy and her ministry.
The campaign, which is also being championed by local artistes Ammara Brown, Winky D, Rocqui and Holy Ten seeks to engage male peers to act as change makers in communities.
In her keynote address, Deputy Minister Mhlanga said the Government is working hard to eradicate GBV.
“I’m proud to note that the Government of Zimbabwe has put in place the National Response which guides implementers in GBV programming. We have also set up Victim Friendly Units at all police stations. A trained focal person who deals with GBV cases is stationed at every station.
“Prevention plays a central role in efforts to eradicate and remove the root causes of GBV. It’s critical that all partners put in as much effort towards the GBV response, and a strongly coordinated and effective multi-sectoral approach into GBV prevention. Interventions that engage young people and human rights activism can make an important contribution to such preventative work.”
Deputy minister Mhlanga said the launch comes at a time when the country is about to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism to rouse action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
“In a few days’ time the world gets to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, starting on November 25 and running through to December 10.
“The 16 Days of Activism against GBV Campaign is a time to galvanise action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
“More than two decades on, the campaign lives on and we continue to raise our voices in the fight against GBV. The Love Shouldn’t Hurt campaign launch, therefore, comes at an ideal time, and through it we continue to add our voices in the call for a violence-free community,” she said.
Deputy Head of Mission for Swedish Embassy, Professor Berthollet Kaboru said the embassy will continue supporting programmes that advance gender equality to reduce GBV in Zimbabwe.
“It is disheartening that even as we are gathered here, somewhere in Zimbabwe a woman is being physically or sexually abused and beaten. It is essential now more than ever to implement campaigns to reduce incidence of intimate partner violence which has been increasing since the Covid-19 lockdown measures where couples must spend more time indoors and economic pressures on households have increased,” he said.
