… As the world commemorates 16 days of activism against GBV

Melinda Kusemachibi/ Fredrick Moyo

Justice for Anna Machaya’ one of the watershed moments on the 2021 Zimbabwean calendar in which the nation once more grieved and was brought to a state of somberness as people from all walks of life demanded justice for the 15 year-old girl who died while giving birth at an Apostolic sect shrine in Marange, Manicaland province.
The ensuing campaign code named ‘GIRLSNOTBRIDES’ became a major highlight and subject of debate among various Zimbabwean citizens leading to the arrest of Hatineyi Momberume, the husband to the teenager.
This case was just a tip of the iceberg to the situation currently obtaining in the countryside and the high level of vulnerability of an ordinary girl or woman lives and the extent of the challenges related to gender that have become part of the daily routine or ordeals these groups have to endure.
The proliferation of child marriages because of either religious or cultural practices that became even more prevalent during the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
The advent of Covid-19 in 2019 taking the globe by storm with its ravaging and devastating consequences piled even more misery on already tormented souls.
The lockdown measures pronounced as precautionary measures to contain the spread of the deadly Corona virus did not spare the vulnerable women who were already at the receiving end of gender-based violence.
The restrictions confined the ‘perpetrator’ and the victim in the domestic arena and the resultant situation added more woes to women who had to endure the brunt of GBV as reported by Musasa hotline.
During the first 11 days of Covid-19 lockdown, 764 GBV cases were recorded, a figure way above the total for the whole month between February and March and a clear testimony that lockdown compounded vulnerability of women.
However, for a country whose majorities live in rural areas and most of them are women, this came as a disappointment and infringed on their sexual rights while women with disabilities became victims of sexual violence mostly relatives.
Recently, Women Action Group (WAG) issued a statement that emotional violence saw a sharp rise during lockdown, possibly due to heightened household tensions resulting from confined living conditions and increased financial stress.
“Transport challenges and movement regulations made it difficult for women and girls to report violence and access support services as well as various necessities for survivors of violence. Economic hardships have been highly pronounced with the Covid-19 pandemic leaving girls vulnerable to child marriages initiated by their families as a livelihood,” added the report.
According to Musasa Project 20 000 cases of gender based violence were recorded in 2019, with the number doubling to 40 000 in 2020.
As on September 18, 2021, Masvingo One Stop Center recorded 1 247,Bikita 149, Gutu 299, Nemamwa 155, Mwenezi 329 GBV cases.
In Masvingo province it was estimated that issues of domestic violence escalated to over 200% since lockdown started.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudashakwe Dhewa said they encourage members of the public to resolve disputes through dialogue.
“During these 16 days of activism, the Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) with other stakeholders will be carrying out crime awareness campaigns; some are done physically and others are through radios programmes. The operation would also be facilitating fast tracking of cases that occur during this period.
“Over the lockdown period cases of GBV increased mostly in rural areas. As police, we want to encourage members of the public to quickly report cases of GBV for victims to undergo medical treatment,” said Dhewa.
National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they are yet to release a statement on the issue.
“We are yet to release a statement on that issue but we are going to do so any time this week,” said Ass Com Nyathi.
Center for Gender and Community Development Projects (CGCDZ) programmes manager Chidaushe Mudadi said gender-based violence is a threat to most women and it has affected them especially during this time of the pandemic.
“CGCDZ is calling for increased channels through which women can report GBV during lockdowns. Movement restrictions have affected women than men whereby the former are abused after curfew times in fear of breaking lockdown regulations.” said Mudadi.
A Mucheke woman claiming to be a victim of domestic violence indicated that she experienced a hard time and it traumatized her.
“I am a victim of domestic violence and my husband beat me up in front of our children. All this started during first days of Covid-19 national lockdown because l could no longer go to my work place to sell fruits and vegetables,” said victim.
Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT) Director, Henry Chivhanga said women in rural areas are facing a mammoth task in reporting their cases to the police.
“As we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, there are normal places where victims make reports and that is the police But you can find out that during Covid-19 lockdowns, the issue of mobility was affected as there was no movement as the cost attached to such transport movements prohibited people with disabilities in accessing justice in particular making reports to the police.
“The lockdown actually aggravated the whole issue of GBV in that most cases unreported and the perpetrators are just scot-free. People with disabilities have rights and should also live in the community just like any other person but the issue is they are vulnerable hence easily succumb to GBV infliction.
“As we approach the 16 Days of Activism, we continue to do advocacy and highlight the issues around GBV in particular women and children. We are also continuing to teach our members on December 3, 2021 as we celebrate the International Day for people with Disabilities, we will continue to speak out about GBV since this day falls within that period of GBV activism period from November 25 to December 10, 2021,” said Chivhanga.
Emerging evidence in Zimbabwe, or regionally, indicates that poor women, those in rural areas, women and girls with disabilities, adolescents not girls, elderly women, women and girls with HIV, migrant women and women in quarantine facilities, and refugees are at heightened risk of violence.
United Nations revealed on April 1, 2021 that many countries in East and Southern Africa reported very high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and the preliminary reports of some countries indicate that GBV has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Violence by an intimate partner was reported by more than 40% of women in Zimbabwe even before the pandemic,” read the report.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi on November 23 while presenting during a Parliamentary dialogue session on this year’s 16 days of Activism against GBV said that cases of GBV continue to rise despite having legal frameworks that focus on that.
“Despite the existence of progressive laws, cases of GBV continue to rise. The country has become the epicenter of some of the most brutal cases of violence against women and girls,” said Gezi.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the commemoration to mark the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence which runs from November 25 – itself the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10 – the Human Rights Day. This is a period to highlight, appreciate and honor efforts and sacrifices, by individuals and institutions, towards prevention and elimination of all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in general and violence against woman and girls in particular.
This commemoration period is a time and an opportunity for individuals and institutions, working towards eliminating GBV and all other forms of violence against women and vulnerable groups, to come together, reflect and consolidate achievements and chart the way forward. It is
Indeed an opportunity to share notes to increase awareness and galvanize advocacy efforts towards eliminating GBV and all forms of sexual violence against women and girls.
It is imperative to emphasize that GBV and violence against women was already a global problem before the covid-19 pandemic but however increased due to the induced lockdown.
A 14-year-old Memory Machaya who died on July 15, 2021 died giving birth at a church shrine in the eastern region of Marange, Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has committed to end child, early and forced marriage by 2030. It also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, which sets a minimum age of marriage of 18. However, despite this, girls in Zimbabwe are not safe from the practice. Over a third of girls (34%) are married before the age of 18 in the country and 5% are married before their 15th birthday.