STAFF WRITER
The government has launched a four-year project funded by a Japanese pharmaceutical company through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that would provide survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) with help through high-quality case management.
Speaking at the launch held in the capital Harare, Women’s Affairs minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the goal of the GBV Case Management System was to address the needs of the survivors.
According to Mutsvangwa, the assistance was timely given that the government was concentrating on putting a GBV policy framework into effect.
She said the project will be piloted in Matabeleland North’s Bubi district before being spread to other provinces.
“Piloting in a district such as Bubi will inform us of the realities faced by survivors accessing services, especially in hard-to-reach areas,” Mutsvangwa said.
“This gives a true reflection that we can replicate across the country in line with the country’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.”
According to Miranda Tabifor, the UNFPA Zimbabwe representative, the project addressed the epidemic of violence against women in Zimbabwe.
“It is not just about responding to GBV; it’s about preventing it. By empowering women, addressing their needs, and building strong support systems, we can create a safer and more just future for all,” Tabifor said.
This project comes at a time when GBV is a major issue that many women and girls in Zimbabwe are dealing with.
At least 49% of married adolescent girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49 report having been the victim of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse at the hands of their current or former spouses.
