New Hope in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence: The Opening of Mpilo One Stop Centre

By Ilyana Sithole

Today, November 28, 2024, marked a major milestone toward the ending of GBV through the commissioning of the Mpilo One Stop Centre at Mpilo Hospital. Commissioned by Hon. Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, it was an important step to comprehensively provide services in support of survivors of GBV in Bulawayo and beyond.

The event coincided with the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign by the Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial Authority, an international campaign to raise awareness and mobilize action to end violence against women and girls.

Minister Mutsvangwa reiterated that the current situation concerning responses to GBV was dire and therefore called for effective responses, stressing that the scourge is one of the most endemic vices affecting millions of Zimbabweans. According to the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 49.4% of women aged between 15 and 49 years have suffered some form of emotional, physical or sexual violence.

GBV is not a private matter, but a social ill that hinders the socio-economic development process of communities. The impact does not only lie with individual survivors but stretches to families and the entire community. Minister Mutsvangwa emphasized that GBV has a far-reaching impact on basic human rights, besides being a serious threat to health and social well-being. Victims largely keep silent, and the impact of GBV is often left to personal fears of victimization and stigma. Silenced, this perpetuates further violence, ensnaring victims in a web of despair and isolation.

It is further complicated by structural barriers in the already existing support structures. Most of the facilities are also physically far from the service communities and devoid of survivor-friendly service providers. This adds to an unkind environment toward those who seek help, which makes them not even report their experiences. Minister Mutsvangwa highlighted some of the barriers that include a lack of adequate training for staff, lack of empathy in interactions, and logistical challenges that discourage victims from accessing necessary service.

The innovative Mpilo One Stop Centre: one in eight of similar facilities by the Government of Zimbabwe across the country in that regard demonstrates serious commitment by this government toward building a relatively efficient response against the mentioned abuse to date. It would integrate one type of healthcare, psychosocial support, legal services, and protection by police under the same roof without any form of charge. Accordingly, this integrated model provides the survivor with a friendly atmosphere where the victims could actually find the required assistance without hesitation for stigmatization and the possibility of further victimization.

Further, Honourable Minister Mutsvangwa reiterated that the model of the One Stop Centre realizes the dire need to have support systems that are friendly and accessible. “We must make sure that our support systems are available, but responsive to the needs of survivors,” she said. It is a centre where there is hope for the majority, and survivors would feel free to speak out and look for justice in a safe and supportive setting.

Furthermore, the creation of the Mpilo One Stop Centre has been a collaborative process between government agencies, civil society, and international partners. The Minister also thanked the Japanese Embassy, who provided them with the requisite funds for constructing the facility. This is what collective commitment to fight GBV and support survivors looks like.

The centre will be complemented by expert services from organisations such as the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, Family Support Trust, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police-Victim Friendly Unit. These agencies will work in collaboration for comprehensive care that meets the individual needs of survivors. To this end, the in-house legal service and police support within the centre is critical because it simplifies the process for survivors to seek justice without having to go through several institutions.

Also, Minister Mutsvangwa reiterated, during the address, that the government is committed to addressing GBV through the promotion of prevention and intervention strategies. She also focused on the need for more economic empowerment programs, awareness creation, and education that may reverse cultural norms that perpetuate acts of violence against women. Prevention is equally important as a response, and calls have been made for collective efforts across board towards combating GBV at every level of society.

Minister Mutsvangwa emphasized that male engagement programs must challenge the negative social, cultural, and religious norms that drive GBV. “We have to engage men and boys as allies in the fight against gender-based violence,” she encouraged. By building respect and equality into culture, a society can be developed where violence is never an option.

This accomplishment attests to the importance of local ownership in addressing GBV. The Minister commended the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Hon. J. Ncube, and members of the Provincial Development Committee for their invaluable work in ensuring the centre’s successful setup. Their commitment to local engagement ensures that the centre meets the specific needs of the Bulawayo community.

It will be more than a place of healing as the Mpilo One Stop Centre opens its doors for the first time, a beacon of hope and resilience in the continuing struggle against GBV. Together with civil society and international partners, the government is committed to ensuring that all citizens can live free from the threat of violence in Zimbabwe.

This center comes at a very instrumental time in realizing the vision of equality and justice championed three decades ago by the Beijing Declaration. Together, it’s achievable to create a future where survivors of GBV can reclaim their voices and lead fulfilling lives free of violence.

As we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Mpilo One Stop Centre stands as a powerful reminder of the progress that can be made when communities come together to support those in need. The journey towards ending GBV is long; however, with initiatives like these, there is new hope for a safer and fairer society.

In the words of Minister Mutsvangwa, “We can, together, meet this vision of a world where every individual lives in a world free from violence.” The Mpilo One Stop Centre gives expression to just this vision and fires an elevated sense of determination toward fighting gender-based violence at the core, to provide dignity to survivors.