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Buhera feedback
Padare/Enkundleni/Men's Forum on Gender
November 12, 2009

The men's movement in Buhera has grown to greater levels and their involvement in the efforts to curb gender violence is commendable.

Speaking of the tour Mr Paul Juru, The Padare Community Advocacy Officer, and Mr. Mande The Camfed Field Co-ordinator highlighted that it was delightful and eye opening to realize how the community around Buhera have come to appreciate of domestic violence and the negative effects it poses on society .Under the guidance of the local Padare leadership they have come up with teams that offer counseling support and advice to victims of sexual abuse and any other forms of abuse being perpetrated on women .

The team visited Gaza and Chapwanya in Buhera and there was an overwhelming response from the villagers. Around 700 people {Gaza 484, Chapwanya 251} were in attendance in the two meetings among them Chief Chapwanya, Headmen Neshava and several other Heads. The Dorova Police officer in Charge also graced the occasion. Two representatives from Chikomba and Hwedza districts attended the meeting to allow cross pollination of ideas.

To spice up the day symbolic bicycle racing was held by 11 men in which they were symbolizing racing away from gender based violence indicating that the time for gender based violence is running out. A tug of war competition was held between men and women, which indicated that all are equal and can perform the same duties and work.

Mother support groups organized under Camfed donated school uniforms to a number of orphans and other vulnerable children as a practical response to the welfare needs of the community. This also gave these children a chance to listen to their elders discussing as they are supposed to be used as messengers of peace and not as weapons of violence by their parents.

We call upon our partners to chip in for partnerships, network and collaborations to assist in ensuring that this area remains vibrant, progressive and undeterred in the struggle for gender equity.

The Padare / Camfed initiative is doing well in the district as the programme has managed to reduce gender based violence through discussion forums and meetings they hold in the community also fewer domestic violence cases have been recorded in the area as confirmed by the police, headmen and women who were present. There is a great revival of families that were breaking apart in the area.

A participant to the meeting said Padare is teaching them concrete and practical things that are helping them change our behavior positively. There was a clarion call to include widowers and widow in our work as they have their own specific concerns around gender equity.

An elderly couple speaking of their experience noted that couples may grow old physically but love does not grow old and this has kept them going for long without ill-treating each other.

Chief Chapwanya urged his subjects to take up their rightful position in the fight against gender based violence and reiterated his commitment to ensure that his people live in harmony, "Mirai panzvimbo nemunhu wamakaroorana naye chaiye chaiye, kwete small house," he said in vernacular. "I call upon all men and women to join the Padare/Camfed initiative," he added.

We pledge to continue working with men to end gender based violence in communities .

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