Minister Mutsvangwa’s Rallying Cry Against Gender-Based Violence

By Ilyana Sithole

The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa, gave the keynote address at the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, rounding up people for a united fight against violence perpetuated on women and girls. The participants at Mawabeni Primary School included government departments, traditional leaders, representatives from civil society and stakeholders who declared their resolve to end all forms of GBV.

Hon. Mutsvangwa thanked the local community for their welcome and emphasized that the event was important, saying, “The 16 Days of Activism remind us not only of the growing need to fight against GBV but also serve to mobilize action.”. The theme of the campaign this year, “Towards 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” represents a pivotal moment in the global struggle for gender equality.

In her address, Mutsvangwa said that despite the adoption of the Beijing Declaration in 1995, Zimbabwe has made significant progress. She cited landmark legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act and the Marriages Act as evidence of the country’s commitment to protecting women’s rights. However, she stressed that despite these advancements, the prevalence of GBV remains alarmingly high, with recent surveys indicating that 42.5% of women in Zimbabwe have experienced physical or sexual violence.

These statistics are not just cold figures and numbers; they represent real lives-our mothers, sisters, and daughters-whose lives have been scarred with violence,” the Minister lamented. She called for all stakeholders to act now and take concrete steps to build communities where violence is not accepted and respect abounds.

Minister Mutsvangwa called for the revitalization of efforts toward fighting GBV, emphasizing that comprehensive support services needed in the fight against it included health, legal aid, and counseling for survivors among other things. She also called for the engagement of men in the conversation, encouraging a redefinition of masculinity that commands respect and equality.

Moreso, the Minister emphasized that GBV does not discriminate by gender and as such expressed concern over the rising violence against men by women. “Violence in any form is unacceptable, irrespective of who the perpetrator is,” she said, underlining a holistic approach in addressing issues relating to GBV.

Additionally, the minister announced that the Umzingwane community will soon have a Safe Market that is meant to offer a safe platform for women in economic activities. The safe market is anticipated to be complete by April 2025 and forms part of the government’s broader strategy for the economic and social empowerment of women.

The government also committed to scaling up access to the One Stop Centres and the GBV Safe Shelters. To date, 18 centres have been established countrywide, of which two were located in Matabeleland South. These facilities have been instrumental in providing survivors with the much-needed services.

Minister Mutsvangwa also aligned the campaign with the SDGs, particularly Goal 5: to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. She said that ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women is needed to realize this goal. It also contributes to supporting SDG 16 on promoting peaceful, inclusive societies and ensuring access to justice for all.

Hon. Mutsvangwa said that this underscored the NDS1 goals on GBV and especially those meant to uplift social welfare and make all public services inclusive and responsive to the needs of all citizens: “Our commitment to NDS1 is a perfect fit into the global agenda to end violence against women and girls.”.

The Minister took a moment to acknowledge the important role that traditional and religious leaders play in combating GBV, calling on them to use their influence to foster a culture of respect and equality within their communities. “Your leadership can inspire change and challenge harmful norms,” she noted, calling for open dialogues that dismantle societal barriers preventing survivors from coming forward.

She concluded by calling upon each one to act against GBV, whether through advocacy or simple acts of kindness. “Together we can create a world where every person lives free from the fear of violence,” she said, emphasizing again the collective responsibility in creating a society where dignity and respect thrive.

As Zimbabwe launches this critical campaign, one thing is clear: the fight against gender-based violence requires a commitment and courage from every citizen. With leaders like Minister Mutsvangwa at the fore, there is hope that someday, violence against women and girls will be but a relic of the past.