peterCharity Chikara, Sunday News Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has declared Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as a national emergency with the signing of a High Level Political Based Violence and Harmful Practices in Zimbabwe blueprint launched in Bulawayo last Friday.
The launch was presided over by the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni who said there was a need for a national action plan against GBV.
In his declaration note, President Mnangagwa said the signing of the action plan towards eradicating GBV was influenced by the recognition of the impacts of the act in terms of violating human rights, being one of the biggest obstacles to women’s participation in decision making.
It was noted that it limits their ability to participate in economic and social activities as well as constituting a drawback to the country’s development aspirations.
“Recognising the high prevalence of Gender Based Violence in the country and the gaps in our national GBV response, I Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, hereby declare Gender-Based Violence a national emergency.
As I make this declaration, I reaffirm my commitment and that of the Government of Zimbabwe and its partners towards the total eradication of all forms of Gender Based Violence and Harmful Practices (GBV/HP).
I therefore, call upon multi-spectral stakeholders to join hands as we pursue our national vision of a Gender-Based Violence free society by 2030,” he said.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Nyoni said there was a need for a co-ordinated approach towards eradicating GBV.
“Statistics indicate that 42,5 percent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, this figure is too high to ignore.
The compact resonates well with the provisions in our constitution and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) which both recognise gender mainstream in all sectors of the economy as an essential tool ‘to eliminate all negative economic, social and harmful practices that impede equality of the sexes’.
“In addition, it echoes our National Vision of a Gender-Based Violence free society, where women and girls fully contribute towards the attainment of an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
This can only be achieved if we all push for a co-ordinated effort towards ending GBV in our communities,” she said.
She added that Zimbabwe was the first to develop a multi-sectoral approach in efforts to drive out GBV/HP out of its communities.
She also highlighted issues to do with poverty and other major causes of GBV/HP.
“I appreciate the work that all our stakeholders in the civil society, private sector, donor sector and other capacities are doing in complementing Government efforts in Gender-Based Violence prevention and response.
Last year on 27 October, Zimbabwe made history by becoming the first country under the Global Spotlight initiative programme to develop a multi-sectoral compact dedicated towards addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harmful practices.
This compact will stand out as a model and a good practice that other countries will seek to learn from and replicate within their jurisdictions,” she said.
UNDP representative, Ms Tafadzwa Muvingi said all stakeholders were working in unison with communities to ensure that the vision of attaining a Gender-Based Violence free society.
“This is an action oriented agreement where we also make sure that our words are accompanied by actions.
Transitioning from talking only to actually doing.
The vision and goal of the impact is to attain a gender just society free of all forms of GBV/HP where woman and girls can fully contribute to the attainment of an upper middle- income society by 2030,” she said.
Online Reporter