admin
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
STAKEHOLDERS in Hwange have pointed out that the unavailability of safe houses in the district is a hindrance to efforts to curb Gender-Based Violence.
A safe house, in the context of GBV, is a home that provides an alternative shelter to a survivor of violence. The intended purpose of a safe house is to keep the victim or survivor from any further potential harm from the perpetrator with an aim of supporting her or him in dealing with the traumatic experience as well as preparation for the legal process.
Different stakeholders who were speaking during a district co-ordination meeting on gender organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development last week said reporting of cases was hampered by lack of safe houses to protect survivors from further exposure.
Matabeleland North has only one safe house in Bubi built with the assistance from Musasa Project which is supposed to cater for the seven districts. Buwalo Matilikilo Trust (BMT) director Mrs Anna Mandizha-Ncube said the absence of safe space was leading to fear among victims to report GBV especially where it involves spouses resulting in many cases going unreported.
“The unavailability of safe houses in Hwange District are really a huge impediment in fighting GBV because one of the major concerns is when someone has gone to report a physical or emotional abuse case at the police there is no safe space that can protect them from the time of initial report up to the time justice is administered in the justice delivery system. For example, if one is beaten up by a spouse and makes a police report he/she is forced to go back home to the same environment while waiting for investigations,” said Mrs Mandizha-Ncube.
She said as a result of cultural factors which makes it taboo to report a spouse, especially a breadwinner, the pressure from the family members or society often led to the withdrawal or absconding of court process.
“Culturally it’s unfound to report a spouse to the police for abuse, the family is going to come in and because there is no safe space for me as a survivor or victim of GBV I’m unable to seek services so sometimes we have a lot of cases going unreported. For them to see justice through there is a need for a safe space to rest emotionally in order to come to terms with what has happened.”
She said her organisation was engaging various stakeholders that include the Department of Social Welfare and local authorities to ensure that structures are identified and refurbished to become safe houses. Mrs Robina Chimowa from Girl Child Network said cases related to GBV were also being exacerbated by the economic situation where a dependency on male spouses for sustenance was leading women to remain silent in the face of abuse.
“It has been noted that women who are abused by their spouses who are breadwinners tend to suffer in silence as reporting would most likely result in re-victimisation by the perpetrator, family members or community. Nowadays as part of addressing economic challenges faced in the home women are being trained in various income generating project through the Ministry of Women Affairs,” she said.
Hwange District Development officer Mr Innocent Ncube said it was Government policy to have safe houses but lack of resources was affecting the efforts.
“We have a policy regarding the establishment of more safe houses, we are aware that there are no safe houses in the district with the only shelter being in Bubi covering the province. We have continued to engage and appeal to stakeholders to assist as these houses play an important role in the fight to end GBV. These shelters not only provide a safe haven from further violence but it is where survivors are also empowered economically with skills so that they are not too dependent on their spouses.”
Online Reporter