Back to Index

Campaign against violence targeting women launched
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
December 03, 2010

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) today Friday 3 December 2010 launched its yearlong campaign against political violence targeting women. The campaign launched at the New Ambassador Hotel, Harare coincides with ongoing commemorations of the 16 days against gender based violence and was attended by over 150 women activists mainly drawn from the NCA structures, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Zimbabwe National Students Unions (ZINASU), Women's Coalition and various other organisations.

The campaign named TOGETHER AGAINST POLITICAL VIOLENCE is a campaign that seeks among other things to tap into the regional experience to address the scourge of political violence as the country approaches yet another election by raising awareness, building support structures, name and shame perpetrators as well as capacitating women and communities at large to deal with the scourge at two levels: prevention and support for victims.

It is a follow up to a report based on a survey conducted by the Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) on the statistics of various human rights violations perpetrated on the female members of the NCA. The report captures human rights violations perpetrated against NCA females members since 2000 to 2008.

According to the report 75% women reported that they had been active political activists. 41 % of these reported being arrested, with 29% having been arrested twice. 35% of those arrested were intimidated during arrest, whilst 46% reported that the worst treatment came from police officers. 9% reported having their young children being detained with them.

Speaking on the objectives of the campaign NCA Midlands Province Gender Chairperson Ms Nyathi highlighted the rough road that women travelled during the during the last election in 2008. ''We have been raped, maimed, raped, tortured for a long time but this time we are saying NO, this shall never happen again,'' she said in an emotional tone.

In his key note address at the launch, NCA chairperson Dr Lovemore Madhuku castigated those who use violence as a means of coercing people to follow their cause. Madhuku took a swipe against the ageing president Mugabe for promoting violence in his rallies and said "this was bad for the society"

He said that the campaign is now a reality and that despite all these violations the NCA will remain committed in the fight for a new people driven constitution that upholds and respects the rights of women. ''The new constitution we want is the one which will enable a decent, democratic and that aspires for a democratic Zimbabwe. The NCA leader also lambasted the Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation describing it as a complete failure and an insult to the victims of political violence.

Mike Kandukutu, ZCTU's National Organising Secretary spoke on the need for transitional justice before the talk of healing.

Veteran trade unionist, founding member of the NCA and MDC legislator Mai Matibenga challenged fellow female cadres to speak out boldly against the infringement of their rights as members of society. She made a plea against the use of violence, intimidation and called for peace and unity during election time.

A lot of activities including demonstrations, community workshops, rallies and petitions have been lined up countrywide as a means of spreading the gospel against violence targeting women. The launch, was also attended by a South African solidarity activist Venetia Govend who saluted the NCA for such a noble initiative, describing it as a 'legitimate' campaign that should be taken seriously. Tafadzwa Muropa from the Women Coalition chaired the meeting.

A regional launch is pencilled for South Africa on the 10th of December 2010 at the Constitution Hill The Women's Jail, corner Kotze street and Joubert Extension, Braamfontein.

Visit the NCA fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP