Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Features Correspondent
The 2023-24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) report sheds light on a concerning trend in the country, revealing that a proportion of the population believes a husband is justified in beating his wife under certain circumstances.
Specifically, the survey found that 40 percent of women and 27 percent of men in Zimbabwe agree that a husband is justified in physically abusing his wife for at least one reason — infidelity.
This acceptance of domestic violence is a stark reminder of the deep-seated patriarchal attitudes that persist in Zimbabwean society.
One of the most striking findings of the survey, which polled respondents on six different scenarios, is that infidelity is the most commonly cited reason for wife beating, with 36 percent of women and 21 percent of men believing that it justifies physical violence.
The scenarios included burning food, arguing, going out without permission, neglecting children, infidelity, and refusing sex.
This suggests that many people in Zimbabwe still view women as ‘property’, and any perceived transgression is seen as a justification for gender-based violence.
The survey also highlights the need to challenge these attitudes and promote gender equality.
The latest survey also comes amid revelations that 27 percent of women aged 15-49 experienced physical violence since age 15, and 13 percent of women have experienced physical violence within the past 12 months.
However, the survey’s findings also reveal a fluctuating trend in attitudes towards wife beating over time.
According to the data, the percentage of women who agree that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one specific reason declined from 51 percent in 1999 to 39 percent in 2015.
However, the proportion has slightly increased to 40 percent in the 2023-24 survey.
This trend suggests that while progress has been made in some areas, there is still much work to be done to address the root causes of domestic violence and promote a culture of respect and equality.
Various stakeholders, in separate interviews, concurred that more efforts are required to shift the prevailing attitude.
“We need to continue educating our society on ways to resolve disputes amicably and the law, and speaking against violence in any form,” Child rights lawyer and one of the founders of Justice for Children Trust, Mr Caleb Mutandwa said.
“We also need to start with young children, particularly boys, to inculcate in them that violence in any form is not acceptable. Traditional and religious leaders should also use and open the platforms they have to reach out to men with the message against violence. Coupled with these, women should be empowered not to continue in, or tolerate abusive situations.”
Mutandwa added that continued enforcement of the Domestic Violence Act and other relevant laws is necessary to deter others from resorting to violence.
For Mrs Shamiso Masokovere-Magoko, a legal expert, laws alone are not enough, as widespread lack of awareness about rights prevents people from accessing protection and justice afforded by laws such as the Domestic Violence Act.
“It’s clear that laws alone aren’t enough to combat domestic violence and assault,” she said.
“Despite Zimbabwe having progressive laws, societal attitudes need to shift as well. There is need to engage communities in a mindset reset, nurturing a culture that prioritises respect, empathy, and support.”
The founder and director of Vana Vedu Trust, an organisation that supports less privileged children, Ms Chipo Mahamba concurred, advocating for the inclusion of gender-based violence (GBV) topics in the curriculum for both primary and secondary education.
“Integrate domestic violence education into school curricula, so that children will know that it is wrong to engage in violence, and conduct community sensitisation programmes to promote healthy relationships, gender equality, and respect for human rights,” she implored.
She also emphasised the need for awareness campaigns, particularly in rural areas, where some men still believe women need beating for submission.
“Engage community leaders, influencers, and local authorities in promoting anti-domestic violence initiatives and providing support to survivors, because these are issues that require a collective effort to change harmful norms and traditions,” said Ms Mahamba.
“Some people still believe that a wife needs to be beaten occasionally, even if she has done nothing wrong.”
She also stated that violence is not the solution to infidelity. Couples should resolve issues peacefully or divorce amicably.
Ms Irene Nyasha Sami, founder and president of Selfless Sisters Trust, a local women empowerment lobby group of survivors of gender-based violence said: “Will beating your wife really change the fact that she cheated? What were the root causes that led her to cheat? If it were vice versa, would men accept beatings as a justified response?
“We strongly disagree with the notion that a husband is justified in beating his wife under any circumstance, including infidelity. Gender-based violence is unacceptable and has no place in our society.”
Child protection advocate Ms Chinga Govhati expressed concern that despite the existence of the Domestic Violence Act, cases of domestic violence are increasing.
“It is of great concern when some of the beliefs support violence as this perpetuates hard to break harmful tendencies that result in economic, physical and emotional loss and pain.
“Violence has no place in any progressive society. We have a mandate to bring up a generation of children who subscribe to principles of human rights, hence adults need to model help-seeking behaviour, respect for each other, and respect for laws that regulate human conduct,” she said.
“Any violence of any form is criminal behaviour. We urge families to observe the law and even where one has been harmed, it is important to use the law and legal institutions to seek help.”
Govhati also expressed optimism that with the Zimbabwe National Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (2023-2030), these concerns will be addressed by 2030.
The need for increased campaign awareness in rural areas is supported by recent data from ZimStat, which indicates that 38 percent of women in rural areas have experienced some form of violence at the hands of their current or most recent intimate partner, compared to 27 percent in urban areas.
However, it is also worth noting that, according to the Zimbabwe Gender-Based Violence report, Zimbabwe ranks better than the averages for Sub-Saharan Africa, though the country lags behind global estimates on gender equality and other countries in the region.
According to the report, which was jointly commissioned last year by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, despite some progress, the country still grapples with persistent gender-based violence.
The report acknowledges that the country has made progress in narrowing gender disparities, particularly in education, and helping to enshrine gender equality into existing legal frameworks.
However, despite sound legal frameworks, gender inequalities continue to be found across sectors such as health. Women have a higher prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
It also points out that in 2019, around 42,5 percent of women experienced physical and/or sexual violence, similar to the 43,4 percent rate reported in 2011-2014, and higher than the global and regional averages of 27 percent and 33 percent, respectively.
The report states that harmful cultural practices contribute to the elevated levels of GBV, including early, child, and forced marriages; forced virginity testing; wife inheritance; and widow disinheritance. Increased incidences of GBV during humanitarian situations have also been reported.
The report also identifies cultural practices, including the controversial lobola tradition, as contributing factors to the elevated levels of GBV in the country.
It also spotlights the alarming prevalence of violence against children, with 32,5 percent of females aged 18-24 experiencing it before the age of 18, and 33,7 percent of women marrying before reaching adulthood.
The report further highlights the reluctance of gender-based violence survivors to seek help, citing fear, embarrassment, and the desire not to get the abuser into trouble as reasons for not seeking assistance.
While Zimbabwe has adopted various legislation to combat gender-based violence, including the Domestic Violence Act and the Trafficking in Persons Act, the assessment emphasises the need for additional efforts to improve the implementation of these laws and to criminalise such acts comprehensively.
Furthermore, the absence of an integrated and interoperable gender-based violence information management system and the incapacitation of national coordination mechanisms have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the existing policy framework for tackling the issue.
Therefore, these surveys should serve as a wake-up call, underlining the urgent need for continued efforts to address gender inequalities, enhance the implementation of legislation, and improve the coordination and accessibility of services for survivors of gender-based violence in Zimbabwe.
