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Statement on the death of Rutendo Jongwe
Women and AIDS Support Network (WASN)
July 24, 2002

The Women and AIDS Support Network (WASN) joins hands with the Zimbabwean women’s movement and the Padare Men’s Forum on Gender in unreservedly condemning the stabbing of Rutendo Jongwe, which resulted in her death.

As an organisation that represents the interests of women, we believe in the sanctity of life and feel that violence of any form cannot be condoned, whatever the circumstances might be.

Media reports indicate that Learnmore Jongwe, Rutendo’s husband, stabbed his wife after alleging that she was having an affair and he suspected that he might have been infected with HIV. As an organisation that promotes women’s rights vis-à-vis HIV/AIDS, we feel that HIV infection is no justification for violence. Afterall, many women have been infected by their partners, but have not resorted to violence.

We therefore join our sister organisation, the Musasa Project in calling for the speedy enactment of the Domestic Violence Bill in order to deter domestic violence, which is mostly perpetrated against women.

To this end, we will rally behind the efforts of various organisations that are fighting for the rights of women and working to ensure that gender violence (violence against women) is eradicated totally from our society.

We hope that justice will prevail in this case and other perpetrators of domestic violence will draw some lessons from this tragic incident.

WASN would also like to send their message of condolence to both the Muusha and Jongwe families.

WASN, working for the creation of an environment where women enjoy their full sexual, reproductive health and rights in this era of HIV/AIDS!

Visit the WASN fact sheet

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