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Musasa
Project organized a gathering against gender based violence
Musasa
Project
July 15, 2010
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Musasa Project
organized an Advocacy gathering in the wake of numerous cases of
femicide that were reported in the mainstream media. The cases of
gender based violence (GBV) in the media had just become one painful
example of what happens to women on a daily basis across the country.
They served as a testimony of the existing gap between the law and
its imperfect implementation. What became a brainteaser for the
organization was the government's inaction in the face of
this horrendous problem which made us brood over the position of
women is in society.
About 660 women
from all walks of life gathered at the Africa Unity Square to denounce
these killings. We have laws that have become nothing but toothless
bulldogs as there still remains a lot to be accomplished before
the right to a life without violence becomes a reality for women
in Zimbabwe. A research conducted by The Zimbabwe Women Resource
Centre and Network highlighted that in Zimbabwe, domestic violence
accounts for more than 60% of murder cases that go through the high
court in Harare. Statistics from different organisations including
the print media reflect that cases of GBV are on the rise (see attached
the statistics from ZRP, Adult Rape Clinic and the media statistics
from media monitoring by Musasa Project).
In her opening
and welcoming remarks the Director for Musasa Project, Mrs. Netty
Musanhu highlighted the events that led to the gathering. She highlighted
the need to reflect on what has been happening with respect to GBV
in Zimbabwe. She blasted the response that society is giving to
cases of femicide giving an example of Tongai Moyo's wife
who killed herself when her husband brought another woman at home.
Her death was quickly ignored and people concentrated on giving
comfort to Tongai Moyo and yet he is the cause of the wife's
death. What is nerve-racking is where the children are in all this
no-one cares about their welfare, the society forgets that femicide
comes forth with so many challenges that need to be addressed. She
encouraged women to speak out against GBV and to be able to stand
up and move out of violent relationships.
A representative
from UNFPA, Helen Peters indicated that the objective of GBV programming
is to eliminate all forms of GBV, be it through effect coordination,
service provision, prevention of cases from happening or research,
documentation and advocacy. She reiterated talked about GBV Programming
in Zimbabwe and she reiterated the need to address GBV in Zimbabwe
as the cases of femicide are on the increase as evidenced by the
numerous cases that are reported in the print media.
On the issue
of resources it was stressed that there is stiff competition and
scrounging for resources by Organizations and this compromises the
quality of programming and comprehensive interventions. Attention
was further drawn to the fact that funding for GBV is on a short
term basis which makes it difficult to plan for long term solutions.
An emphasis was placed on the need for the government, donors, UN
and NGO's to allocate adequate resources to support implementation
of programmes to end GBV. This would go a long way in curbing GBV
in Zimbabwe as well as bring redress to survivors.
In the realization
that rape was also on the increase Mrs. Kurangwa from the Adult
Rape Clinic (ARC) gave a detailed report on the number of cases
they have dealt with in the period of March 2009 to April 2010.
The Statistics were nerve wrecking as it revealed that the numbers
of women being raped and seeking for help at ARC are increasing
by the day. Her presentation revealed that very few women presented
themselves early for treatment after the incident of rape and she
recounted how this posed as a challenge as it is difficult to terminate
a pregnancy from rape when it's beyond three months.
Mrs. Kurangwa
further elaborated the need for women to be well informed on what
they should do when they are raped and also the importance of presenting
early for treatment. She indicated the importance of having such
vital information as she talked about the Post Exposure Prophylaxis
(PEP) which is administered to rape survivors so that their risk
of infection of HIV from the perpetrator is reduced.
The dangers
and cost of GBV were explored and to bring faces to these cases
two families whose loved ones were mercilessly butchered as a result
of GBV gave testimonies of how these deaths had impacted their lives.
With the testimonies the participants and all the responsible authorities
were able to put faces to the cases of femicide so that it is demystified.
The first family was the Nyamayaro family who lost a daughter seven
months ago to GBV. What was so appalling was the fact that this
dangerous man who is a potential threat to mankind has been placed
out on bail. Seven (7) months down the line this murderer is out
on bail and the relatives are lamenting the continual postponement
that is happening at the Rotten Row Courts. What is more horrendous
is the fact that the perpetrator admitted that he was guilty, even
though at law a person facing a murder charge is not allowed to
enter a plea of guilty the delay in trial proceedings fatigues the
relatives for justice delayed is justice denied. This is what makes
the general populace lose faith in the criminal justice system.
Justice has to be attained and this is what Musasa is clamoring
for, murderers should be placed behind bars.
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