Moving On in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence: A Renewed Commitment from the Ministry of Women Affairs

By Ilyana Sithole

The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development yesterday repeated its commitment to ridding Zimbabwe of Gender-Based Violence, as witnessed by two parallel events held yesterday following the successful 16 Days of Activism. Hon Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, the Minister of Women Affairs, gave the keynote address in both events.

Empowering Religious Leaders
The first was a training workshop for the female religious leaders on response to GBV held at the Holiday Inn in Harare. This was not only about giving the religious leaders a skill set they need to handle survivors of GBV, but also to create a support network amongst participants themselves. Minister Mutsvangwa spoke at this event, reminding these leaders how important they were in their communities.

“As women religious leaders, you are well-positioned to influence attitudes and challenge harmful norms,” she said. “Your voices can inspire change, and your actions provide needed support to those left affected by violence.”

The Minister also highlighted that faith communities have been perpetuating a culture of silence on issues of GBV, sometimes attributing the acts to spirits instead of fixing the ills in society. “It is now time to reflect critically on our stance and ask ourselves whether we are truly serving those who suffer in silence,” she rallied the leaders to step into their responsibilities as change agents.

The Reality of Gender-Based Violence
Sen. Mutsvangwa framed GBV not just as a statistic but as a lived reality for many individuals. She shared the staggering statistic that nearly one in three women in Zimbabwe experiences some form of GBV, whether physical, emotional, or sexual. “These numbers symbolize the women we interact with daily, many of whom suffer in silence,” she noted.

The Minister’s remarks resonated deeply with the attendees, many of whom are themselves affected by GBV or know someone who is. “The challenge of GBV is not only affecting your congregants but even you as you sit in this room,” Mutsvangwa emphasized, reminding the leaders that their roles often force them into silence about their own experiences.

Addressing Funding Gaps
Later in the day, the Minister hosted a donor roundtable at Rainbow Towers, aimed at securing funding for GBV response initiatives. This included government officials, civil society organisations, and international partners. The honourable noted that there has been an alarming increase in cases of GBV throughout the country and that the government has so far established 18 One-Stop Centres and 20 shelters to attend to survivors.

However, all these agencies are facing severe funding stresses that put their core work in jeopardy. “In a time of such heightened need, the thought of closing shelters is unconscionable,” she said, pressing attendees to understand how dire the need for finance is.

These shelters play a vital role, providing medical care, psychological counseling, legal support, and a safe place of shelter. However, due to limited funding, shelters struggle to maintain a non-threatening and supportive environment. “From our recent tour of the One Stop Centres and Safe Shelters, the reality on the ground is that these centres are operating under very difficult conditions,” she said, pointing out cases where shelters are forced to operate beyond their capacity.

A Call to Action
Hon. Mutsvangwa called upon all sectors to assist in creating a safe and equal society, mobilizing attendees into action. “Your support is required in helping address these financial gaps to effectively and efficiently ensure that our One-Stop Centres and Safe Shelters become self-sustainable,” she insisted.

She said it is also paramount that such institutions be funded sufficiently, in a way that would be sustainable and cover all the needs of comprehensive survivor response. “Such institutions have needs ranging from operational costs to legal aid, to continuous training for specialized staff,” she said.

In a compelling moment, the Minister called on the private sector to do more through active support of GBV programs. “Your contributions, not only in added value but also in necessity, are crucial in complimenting national efforts toward prevention and response to gender-based violence,” she said, addressing the potential of private contributions in terms of both resources and expertise.

A Collective Responsibility
The Minister reiterated that the fight against GBV is not solely the responsibility of the government but requires an all encompassing approach. “We must recognize that insufficient funding often arises from a limited understanding of GBV’s true economic costs,” she explained. “To address this, we are mobilizing support for a comprehensive study on the economic impacts of GBV in Zimbabwe.”

This study aims to provide data to advocate for more funding to be availed and, importantly, to show the need for financial commitment from every sector of society. Its findings will be essential in the development of a solid investment case for GBV response initiatives by highlighting how GBV undermines economic development and social cohesion.

Building a Network of Support
The Minister closed the day by encouraging the participants to take this training and roundtable as merely the beginning for greater movement. “Let us jointly create a network of support that would go beyond this workshop, spilling into our community,” she encouraged the audience to share their experiences and expertise.

The message from Hon. Mutsvangwa was, therefore, clear: collective action was the key to having lasting impact in efforts to stem GBV. “Let us commit to being champions of change, advancing the rights and dignity of all in our communities,” she said in conclusion.

Conclusion
While the country has continued to fight against gender-based violence, the Ministry of Women Affairs has been taking a leading role with renewed strength. Training religious leaders and holding the donor roundtable are very important steps within the general campaign against GBV. That way, joint and persistent actions from all sides may lead to a future free from violence and fear for all.

The events of December 11, 2024, stand in testimony to the resilience of those committed to this cause. Continued advocacy, funding, and community engagement will ensure that Zimbabwe leads from the front in bringing about transformational change in ensuring safety and dignity for all its citizens.