TATENDA CHIKARA IN CHIVI
Women in Chivi district in Masvingo Province have expressed concern over rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) as they fall prey to abuses by men under the guise of having paid lobola.
The ward 11 women repesentative, Alicemate Sarireni, told Business Times that women feel insecure in their homes.
“As women we feel insecure in our homes. Men abuse us simply because they paid lobola for us, this is despite the fact that we also work to assist them in feeding our families.
“We urge the government to strongly help us gain our freedom by conducting men’s gatherings where they can be taught about respecting their female counterparts,” Sarireni said.
Another woman who also spoke to this publication said they respected their men so much but men were not thankful as “we give them our ears when they give orders in the house”.
However, Ward 11 councillor, Walter Nyambi, said men were also victims.
“It is not only women who suffer abuse but also men. So because they are men their cases are mostly not reported.
“I encourage men to consult their wives relatives or theirs if they get involved in such circumstances as victims of GBVs.
“The reason why I am saying so is because most men end up taking away their lives in silence because of pride. They must report such cases,” Nyambi said.
