NEW: ICTs emerge as useful in fight against GBV

Debra Matabvu

ZIMBABWE recorded a significant increase in the number of Gender Based Violence (GBV) victims who sought help through Information Communication Technology (ICTs) between April and May in 2020 from the prior comparable period, according to findings from women’s rights groups.

The collated data from various women’s rights groups in the country show that GBV victims made use of various modes of ICTs, such toll free numbers, WhatsApp platforms and Facebook, to seek help during the Covid-19 induced lockdowns.

Msasa Project advocacy and communications officer, Ms Rotina Musara, said ICT was crucial in the fight against GBV.

“We had a 75 percent increase in victims who sought help or counseling using technology such as our toll free lines, WhatsApp, and Facebook in 2020 during the first lockdown compared to the past two years,” she said.

“We used the traditional media such as radio and newspapers to communicate and set up a 24-hour toll free line, which was used by the victims.”

Shamwari yeMwanasikana executive director, Ms Ekeniah Chifamba, said the organisation increased usage of social media platforms to communicate during the lockdown.

“We increased the use of social media platforms especially in 2020 to ensure that the GBV message remains alive,” she said.

“We also used WhatsApp platforms for communication purposes, and this was very effective.”

This comes as Zimbabwe recorded an increase of GBV against women and girls during Covid-19 induced lockdowns.

According to a recent report commissioned by the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ), there was an increase in physical, emotional and economic violence in April and May last year, as compared to the same period in 2019.

The report showed that 5 498 cases were reported between May and April 2020, while 6 906 cases were reported during the same year in 2020.

“Reporting of physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence by any perpetrator was highest during the Covid-19 lockdown period, irrespective of the type of violence,” reads the report.

“For example, 40,3 percent of all reports of physical violence collected across the different time periods were reported during the lockdown (April-May 2020), compared to 28 percent immediately before the lockdown (February-March 2020), and 31,8 percent in April-May 2019.”

The report also showed that there was an increase in victims reporting abuses to relevant authorities such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) or non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

ZRP national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said they were working on campaigns to end GBV and raise more awareness in communities across all provinces.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police plays a pivotal role in the fight against gender-based violence, and we have intensified efforts to work and educate people in all provinces on violence and also educating the public on the importance of the Victim Friendly Unit,” he said.

On November 25, Zimbabwe joined the rest of world in commemorating 16 days against GBV, which ran under the theme ‘End Violence against Women and Girls Now, No to Child Marriages.’