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Don't criminalise fight against gender violence
Muzvare Betty Makoni, Women's Coalition
February 08, 2006

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=246&livedate=2/8/2006%2012:00:00%20AM&cat=10

View the index of articles on the debate around the Domestic Violence Bill

This letter was first published in The Herald (Zimbabwe)

EDITOR — My letter is not meant to degenerate into an argument with one R. Nguringa who wrote that Mai Chisamba show was biased in his letter to the editor of February 7, 2006.

It has become traditional in our country to have people think that as long as women come together to discuss issues that affect them and their families then they are biased.

Yes Mai Chisamba is a talk show meant to allow discussion but at the same time let’s be cognisant of the fact that gender-based violence affects women more.

But most importantly, violence in the home affects just everyone even the country at large no wonder the panelists spoke about the need to have zero tolerance to violence against both men and women but particularly against women and girls.

There are so many programmes on television and radio that come out where we see gender insensitive men dominating and as women we understand that we still have a long way to go because of the socialisation process.

I think that the one space given during Mai Chisamba Show is a rare opportunity for women to come out.

When a baby who is three days old gets raped, I am not sure what kind of talk one would expect to hear besides emotions.

We expect men in the women’s organisations to be sensitive and show emotions because they deal with gender-based violence daily and hats off to them to come to the rescue of women and girls, as this is very rare.

If you follow the media in general you will notice that whenever women appear in the news they are raped, murdered, naked on stage performing sexy dances or competing in a beauty pageant.

No man condemns such abuse of women and girls. Of late, there have been calls for women to speak out on rape and domestic violence and when we go out to speak out, we have limited space to do so because it is taboo for women to speak out.

When our men go out to watch soccer or just do what they feel like doing there are no strings attached.

Men have enough spaces in government, in the corporate world, sports, universities and they are the chiefs, cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, news editors, professors and I am sure through their dominance in every sector they can make laws that protect them more than the women and girls, which is why it has taken Zimbabwe some time to castrate men who rape little girls, they are given bail and they walk scot-free.

Nguringa should sympathise with a small bunch of women and men who attended Mai Chisamba Show to try and exchange views and sensitise Zimbabweans on the need for peace in the homes.

Women and girls are perishing in the homes from rape and domestic violence and our statistics show there is need to prioritise this issue.

I call upon R. Nguringa to seriously think about his own mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and tell me whether there is something wrong if they come together to tell members of the family that violence against both women and men in the home, school and community should be eliminated.

I hope the whole country thinks fast whether we should debate on rape or murdering of women or it is time to speak out in condemnation.

And thanks Mai Chisamba for being so professional and allowing millions of Zimbabweans to hear you condemning gender-based violence.

This is what makes you tick as a public figure. Women and men who are against rape and domestic violence respect and salute you and you tackle so many sensitive issues with skill and diligence which is very rare.

*Muzvare Betty Makoni is Chairperson Women’s Coalition

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