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Daisy Jeremani Gender Editor
SOCIETY has been urged not to harbour perpetrators of sexual abuse and let law enforcement agencies deal with the cases decisively.
In a speech read on her behalf by her deputy, Cde Abigail Damasane at the Matabeleland South Anti-Sexual Violence launch at Esigodini yesterday, the Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Cde Oppah Muchinguri said society has failed victims of abuse and sexual violence by keeping silent.
The government is realigning laws with the new constitution and very soon people who are misdemeanours by omission or commission to any act of sexual violence against anyone will be prosecuted.
“Our new constitution provides for protection and freedom from all forms of violence from public or private sources,” she said.
The minister said the idea of having women withdrawing cases of abuse was alarming and a drawback in the fight against the scourge and urged them to be brave and face off with the abusers.
Condemning people who hide behind traditional practices, Cde Muchinguri said not all traditional practices condone barbarism.
“Community-based prevention and response programmes aimed at addressing violence against women and girls will specifically tackle negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that condone violence against women and girls,” the minister said.
She urged all those involved in the fight for social justice to continue strengthening prevention and response strategies to address gender-based violence particularly sexual abuse of women and children.
The government has always stressed that availing services to survivors of rape was a priority and that the fight needed a co-ordinated multi-sectoral response.
The anti-sexual violence campaign will see the ministry working together with chiefs and the police in Matabeleland South Province.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Matabeleland South, Cde Abedinico Ncube said his province, despite the splendid job being done by the government, remained burdened by high statistics of gender-based violence and HIV/Aids.
He said the gender-based violence strategy 2012-2015 was a very noble document which seeks to reduce all forms of gender-based violence in Zimbabwe by 20 percent.
“I am disappointed that with the current trends, we may not afford that target as a province. However, I remain optimistic that with your coming here that there will be a complete change of mind set from both the implementing organisations and the community at large,” he said.
Matabeleland South has the country’s second highest lifetime intimate partner violence prevalence of 74 percent.
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