CHENGETAI MURIMWA
Senator for Mashonaland Central Province, Alice Chimbudzi has denounced gender based violence (GBV) and called for stronger partnerships to protect girls and women.
She spoke in the House of Senate during a motion on curbing gender-based violence in communities.
Contributing during a motion on curbing gender-based violence in communities in the Senate, Chimbudzi said lack of full enforcement remained a challenge, despite the legal framework that has been put in place by the government to address GBV issues.
“There are laws in place especially Chapter 4 of the Constitution, Part 2, Sections 48 (1), 51, 52 and 53 provide for the right to dignity, personal security and freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment and all forms of violence, the Domestic Violence Act; the Matrimonial Cause Act, the 1989 Maintenance Act, the 1997 Administration of Estates Act, the 2001 Amended Sexual Offences Act, the 2006 Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and the 2007 Domestic Violence Act,” Chimbudzi.
“Regardless of all the aforementioned policies, GBV remains a huge issue in Zimbabwe.”
She said it was a concern to the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus, and the August House should be equally concerned, that the government has apparently failed to fully enforce existing GBV laws.
“I propose it is time a new GBV law is made, maybe one that codifies all the GBV laws into one that is effectively enforced. The different pieces of legislation have their own weaknesses that should be addressed urgently. For instance, GBV is not confined to the domestic sphere, but it can take place anywhere anytime, at a place of work, in public spaces, at bus stations, and in the informal sector,” Chimbudzi said.
She noted that numerous GBV laws continue to co-exist with high prevalence of domestic violence or sexual harassment, and child marriages, which also become a scourge in its own right.
“This may result from poor implementation of the laws, whether due to poor enforcement, low capacity, or the lack of additional mechanisms, policies and specific programmes. We believe as women that the violence against women in this country continues despite legislation because of various factors: gender inequality, cultural attitudes towards the position of women in society, and women economic marginalization. A culture of patriarchy – especially within local power structures, makes it impossible for women to compete even for political power,” she said.
Chimbudzi also said Senate was aware that funding of GBV programmes remained a challenge.
She said key GBV institutions, in particular the Anti-Domestic Violence Council, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and Victim Friendly Units under the Zimbabwe Republic Police, require more resource allocation and timely disbursement in order for them to execute their mandate.
“The Anti- Domestic Violence Council especially, has been unable to carry out its work effectively due to lack of any meaningful funding, yet it was established to promote the protection and relief of victims of domestic violence through research, information dissemination, coordination and monitoring”.
“As we commemorate 16 Days of Activism and Gender Based Violence against Women, we take this opportunity to call upon the Treasury to fully adopt the concept of Gender Responsive Budgeting. Poverty is a risk factor associated with gender-based violence. It reinforces gender inequality and further marginalizes the status of women. Therefore, through Gender Responsive Budgeting and women economic empowerment, they can be powerful tools in reducing Gender-Based Violence,” the legislator.
She said they were pleading with the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus, the August House for funding facilities such as the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation and the Women’s Micro Finance Bank to assist.
Zimbabwe is joining the rest of the world in commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The 16 days of activism against gender based violence is an annual international campaign that kicked off on November 25 and runs until December 10.
