The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
Violence against women is regrettable and should stop forthwith as it destroys the victims’ lives and also results in huge economic costs for the country, Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni has said.
In her remarks at the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, Minister Nyoni said: “It has been realised that GBV results in huge economic costs for the country as its negative effects result in increased burden on the health system and other response systems.
“Resources spent in responding to GBV, if redirected towards the development of the country, will contribute immensely to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Gender Based Violence takes place in all spheres of our daily lives, within our homes, work places and in public places. It is therefore everyone’s responsibility to stop this vile practice.”
The 16 Days of Activism against GBV are commemorated from November 25 to December 10 every year.
This year’s theme is ‘Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!’.
The Women’s Affairs Ministry is implementing a number of initiatives to address GBV, which include setting up of one-stop-centres for GBV survivors and establishing self-markets.
There are plans to train district stakeholders on mainstreaming GBV in humanitarian action and providing transport support to survivors and witnesses.
At the same time, Women In Law In Southern Africa has partnered with the ministries of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development and that of Local Government and Public Works to identify GBV hotspots in Manicaland for immediate interventions.
Early this week, the organisation held a capacity building workshop in Mutare as part of the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence.
WILSA legal officer, Ms Hilda Mahumucha, said the organisation is running a project to encourage women and girls in Manicaland to speak out against GBV.
“Our theme for that particular project is ‘Loud, Speak it loud.’ We are advocating for all victims – women and girls – to speak out when they are subjected to any form of GBV,” said Ms Mahumucha.
WILSA has established a toll-free line for such reports. Legal aid is also offered.
“We have collaborated with line ministries, that is the Women Affairs Ministry and the Local Government Ministry. We are saying within their areas of operations, which are the areas hardest hit by GBV, we need tailor-made programmes that suit those specific areas. We are going to carry out capacity building programmes in Dora and Chishakwe, Mutare District,” said Ms Mahumucha.
She said the Covid-19 pandemic is having a negative effect on most women as most of their sources of income have been greatly affected.
“Most women who were in informal trading were left vulnerable because of the lockdown. Their sources of income were affected and they are struggling to put food on the table. As WILSA, we will roll out programmes to economically empower women who are in vulnerable situations. We have a fund set aside to capacitate them to buy chicks and fend for their families. We will be running our programmes in Mutare Urban and Mutasa,” she said.
