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Gender based violence still rampant but villagers soldier on against all odds: Views from Gokwe
Padare/Enkundleni/Men's Forum on Gender
October 27, 2009

The recent community mobilisation exercise on promoting gender equity by Padare has opened a can of worms in as far as the fight for gender justice is concerned. During the visit the PADARE/CAMFED team led by Paul Juru and Usher Mande learnt of the shocking abuses that are still being perpetrated especially on women.

We condemn such blatant disrespect for women and call for a men's movement that is cautious and conscious of the equality in which we were created. The Team implored the villagers to have respect for each other and live in harmony. It is our view that a lot still need to be done to ensure that gender based violence comes to an end.

A record 644 people attended the meetings with 306 males and 95 females converging at the Jiri meeting, with another 148 women and 95 men attending the other meeting at Chief Mukoka's residence.Chief Jiri and Mukoka graced the two meetings. The District Adminstrator Mrs Mafukidze and various heads of government departments like education, social welfare, women affairs, police and the prison service attended the two meetings. The Public Service District Inspector Mr Kambasha and the resident magistrate Mr Mberewere played a pivotal role in coordinating this outreach in their capacity as Padare executive members.

The few experiences and testimonies below highlight the level of abuse being recorded.

Case One

Villagers have been left shell shocked after a self proclaimed prophet, Louis Chinhema raped a nineteen year old married woman on the pretext that he wanted to help her conceive. The woman whose identity will be kept a secret (note the case is in the public domain) was forced to have sheep fat put inside her organ using the man's biological organ. The woman had to religiously follow the orders of the prophet not knowing that the man was penetrating her. This only came to light when the woman narrated this ordeal to her husband which led to the arrest of the prophet and fortunately now the rapist has been sentenced to 10 years in jail. Padare members continue to offer support to the family.

Case Two

A local headmaster whose identity will not be disclosed for now has been arrested and suspended from work following reports that he has been abusing school girls. This only came to light when one of the girls he had proposed love to turned his request down and instead reported him for continuously stalking her. Our Padare members had to intervene after the School Development Committee wanted to protect the headmaster from facing the full wrath of the law. What is worth noting is that the girl child is empowered as she has managed so far to stand against the headmaster and insists that she will stand against the head at any court of law.

Case Three

A husband who has been granted a court order not to interfere with his wife and children has been threatening to physically harass the wife and any potential helpers to the wife who has become a destitute as he has stopped fending for the family. His children continue to suffer as he insists that he can only bail out his children if their mother leaves the home she is staying in which she won through a court order after the divorce. Padare will link this woman with our partner organisations, ZWLA and Musasa Project.

Case Four

A man spent 7 yrs without going back home staying at the local Growth point but now is returning home with the intention of chasing away his wife .The husband is being provocative since the last time he came home he dug the floor and wet the bed all in an attempt to force the wife out wedlock.

Statistics

(From the Z.R.P Victim Friendly Courts in Gokwe South)

• Sexual abuse cases recorded in Gokwe South District January-Sep 2009: 87
• Domestic Violence cases reported mostly of physical violence: 7

Visit the Padare fact sheet

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