Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has rolled out a nationwide capacity training programme that seeks to curb gender-based violence (GBV) in the face of the El Nino-induced drought.
The ministry in partnership with the United Nations (UN) is training heads of Government departments and development partners across the country on how to deal with GBV in communities.
During drought situations, increased vulnerability and dependency have been identified as the leading causes of GBV.
Speaking during a recent training session in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South provincial development co-ordinator Ms Marjorie Sikhundla said prevention of gender-based violence is possible through a multi-stakeholder approach.
She said GBV cases increased during the Covid- 19 pandemic hence her ministry is now strengthening the prevention pillar.
Zimbabwe is reeling under El Nino-induced drought which resulted in the country receiving normal to below-normal rainfall during the last cropping season. Most farmers as a result harvested nothing.
“Zimbabwe is one of the three countries in Southern Africa affected by this El Nino-induced drought. This prompted our ministry to coordinate gender-based violence issues and ensure protection,” said Ms Sikhundla.
“We have come up with this training programme as a mitigation measure. We anticipate that during drought, GBV cases will be on the increase due to the exacerbated vulnerabilities of our community members, particularly women and girls.”
Ms Sikhundla said the training seeks to empower humanitarian actors drawn from Government departments and civic society organisations with knowledge for them to intervene on GBV issues in their various communities.
She said Government departments and partners should be able to identify gender-based violence cases and take necessary action.
Ms Sikhundla said where partners cannot directly support they can refer to the specialised actors.
She urged development partners to raise awareness as part of prevention efforts. Ms Sikhundla said food relief programming by development partners should also be tailored to mitigate GBV.
“As agents of development, we must spread knowledge on GBV. If we pass on the knowledge it will spread to other people who will also spread it to others. We also have to plan together and come up with measures to mitigate GBV,” she said.
“During drought, we have cases of community leaders who take advantage of beneficiaries. Some use their power to sexually exploit beneficiaries in exchange for grain. As we go about our programme, we need to be wary of such people.”
Ms Sikhundla said vulnerable groups such as women, girls, orphans, the elderly and people with disabilities are at high risk when it comes to GBV.
“We also urge boys and men who are being abused to also report GBV cases,” she said. — @DubeMatutu
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