Branton Matondo
As the 16 days of activism against gender based violence (GBV) head towards the 11th hour, men from Mutare have came out saying they also suffer from gender based violence despite statistics indicating more women suffering from the scourge. The period from 25 November to 10 December marks a 16 day period where the world commemorates activism against gender based violence.
Attendants of a recent community meeting in Sakubva, Mutare said that a reasonable population of Zimbabweans thought women were the only victims of GBV.
Mutare Central Member of Parliament Innocent Gonese who attended the meeting said gender based violence was on the rise and men were also falling victim.
“There is a misplaced notion that females are the only ones who suffer from gender based violence. Men have also fallen victim to GBV but in society it is difficult to believe and on top of that men fail to come out of their shells,” said Gonese.
Gonese who is also GBV activist and champion added that the violence has to be tackled on both ends as it affects all genders citing that members of the community should shun delays and report cases.
While contributing to the discussion, a representative from Sakubva identified as John said cases of rape have been on the rise but men are also being sexually abused.
“We hear of rape cases happening and women falling victim every day but men are also encountering sexual abuse on multiple occasions. The situation is not being voiced out but as members of society, we came across people who have experienced such,” he said.
Another resident from Sakubva said violent family interactions between fathers and mothers have led to a new trend of gender based violence.
“In Mutare, we come across cases of children who are exposed to violence at home and those children end up attacking their parents, be it the mother or father. That issue needs to be looked into,” said the resident.
Councillor Alderman Nyamupanedengu who was also part of the engagement added that issues of GBV and related cases also need to be addressed with culture in mind.
Youth led forums including Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA), Zimbabwe Diamonds Allied Workers Union (ZIDAWU) and Manicaland Women Symposium (MWS) also added their voices to this year’s theme on activism against gender based violence which is ‘Unite Activism to End Violence Against Women & Girls’.
This year’s theme received more relevance by the Zimbabwean community following the rape of 9 year-old minor in Matebeland who later on gave birth.
There have been more cases of rape against young girls who have their rights violated in the name of ‘religious practice’ in African Apostolic sects which have gone unabated.
