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Midlands Bureau Chief
WOMEN should move out of their traditional shell of accepting all forms of abuse from their husbands and desist from protecting them from the law in the name of preserving their marriages, Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Cde Oppah Muchinguri has said.
Speaking at the National Commemorations of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence held in Gweru on Wednesday, Cde Muchinguri said the Government was worried about the increase in cases of gender-based violence and has since taken a tough stance to end the social vice.
She said her ministry would fully utilise relevant sections of the new constitution to curb cases of abuse of the girl child and gender-based violence.
There has been a marked increase in reported cases of domestic violence from 1 940 in 2008 to 10 871 last year.
“Women suffer a lot at the hands of their men. However, I think as women, we are our own worst enemies.
“Often, women end up with swollen faces and eyes as a result of gender-based violence. When the woman reports the assault to her aunt – another woman – she is told that is what marriage life is like. Chakafukudza dzimba matenga, the aunt tells the abused woman (don’t wash your dirty linen in public),” said Cde Muchinguri.
She added: “The abuse continues with the woman telling friends that she fell on her face while bathing. Such cases of abuse can at times result in the death of the woman.
“We are saying as a ministry this should end and no to all forms of gender-based violence. Expose the perpetrators of gender-based violence so that we bring up our children in a clean and safe environment.”
Cde Muchinguri said it was worrying to note that areas previously perceived as safe for children and the girl child like homes, schools and churches have been turned into “war zones”.
She said gender-based violence could only end if stakeholders worked together.
“Children are being abused at school. We have priests of certain churches who took vows of celibacy but are now abusing our children at mission boarding schools. Boys are being sodomised, even grown men abuse each other in jail.
“We also receive reports of abuse of children with disabilities and children who live with step parents,” said Cde Muchinguri.
She added: “Maids are victims, so are young sisters-in-law who come to live with their sisters’ families who are often abused under the pretext of an outdated traditional practice known as chiramu in Shona. I am appealing to civic and traditional leaders, the church and school authorities to help Government end gender-based violence.
“Chiefs you are the custodians of our culture, please help us end abuse of our children in the name of culture or marrying them off before they turn 18.
“The church has a role to play in ensuring that couples that wed in church remain in the church forever to avoid divorce.
“Through divorce, we get more cases of child abuse as it creates stepchildren and stepparents.”
The minister said women should try to attend to their men’s sexual needs as much as they could.
“Menopause should not be an excuse for avoiding sex because our men will end up abusing maids and our little sisters in our absence,” she said.
According to the 2011 baseline survey, 33 percent of females and nine percent of males aged between 18 and 24 were reported to be experiencing sexual violence before turning 18.
The survey also reported that 64 percent of females and 76 percent of males aged between 18 and 24 years were reported to be experiencing physical violence prior to attaining 18 while 29 percent of females and 38 percent males in the same age groups were experiencing emotional violence before turning 18.
About 77,7 percent of the females aged 18 and 24 reported that the first incident was perpetrated by either a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Cde Muchinguri said while men were mostly the perpetrators of gender-based violence and cases of sexual abuse, women were not passive players either.
She blamed deep-rooted cultural norms and tradition in the increase of cases of gender-based violence.
Said the Minister: “You also need to change your mindset when raising your children.
“Train all your children to love and care for other people from a tender age.
“Most of you coach the girl child to be a caring mother and prepare her for motherhood while the boy child is given all the freedom as he is allowed to go and herd cattle. They engage in fights at the grazing lands and this is the violence they carry into their homes once they get married.
“Women should take up projects that are provided by my ministry to empower themselves. That way you avoid rushing into second marriages that affect your children.
“Don’t act as if your brains were also married to your husbands. Remember you are equally intelligent and you are equal partners in the marriage. If you are empowered, most of the gender-based violence will end.”
This year’s commemorations, which were graced by Government officials, and UN agencies officials, were held under the theme: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in our Communities”.
Dancehall icon, Sniper Storm, was the main attraction with his positive message of fighting gender violence and abuse of the girl child being well received by schoolgirls and women at the event.
Online Reporter