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WiPSU
newsletter - Issue 2
Women In Politics
Support Unit (WIPSU)
April 15, 2013
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Let’s
end GBV
Women in Politics
Support Unit (WiPSU) celebrated this year’s Inter-national
Women’s Day in Bulawayo. This year’s celebrations are
being held under the theme: “Peace begins with me, Peace begins
with you, and Peace begins with us all: Act now to end violence
against women and girls.”
While continuous
calls have been made to end gender based violence, WiPSU is saddened
by the incessant cases of violence permeating in our country. On
the 20th of February 2013, the nation woke up to the shocking news
of the ten year old Stacey Munjoma who was raped and found dead
in a maize field in Rugare, Harare. Stacy, who had been reported
missing on Monday morning, was found half naked with her blouse
stained with blood, a post-mortem conducted on the Grade 4 pupil
revealed that her death had been caused by the shock and trauma
she endured after being raped.
Recently Hurungwe
East MP, Honourable Sarah Mahoka was also hospitalized after she
was allegedly attacked by youths during a meeting. Perpetrators
of such inhuman atrocities should be brought to book. It is society’s
responsibility to protect women and children.
Although the
government of Zimbabwe has made strides towards promoting gender
equality through the enactment of legislations and policies that
support gender equality, the plight of women remains in a sorry
state. There is still a long way to go before women can fully enjoy
their fundamental rights. It is appalling that women are still not
paid equally with their male counterparts; women are still not equally
represented in business or politics and decision making positions.
Women still experience, limited access to education, unequal job
opportunities and cases of violence against them has remained high.
There is an
upsurge of rape cases in Zimbabwe. Violence against women is a serious
concern. Women suffer daily the effects of domestic, sexual and
other forms of gender-based violence in the country. It is sad to
note that such cases are still happening when we have the Domestic
Violence Act. More needs to be done by all stakeholders who
include the community, legislature, executive and judiciary to ensure
the problem of violence against women and children is dealt with
holistically. Most countries are run by men and we have witnessed
a lot of gender based violence; we need to have women in key positions
in order to end violence.
WiPSU congratulates
the women of Zimbabwe for their hard work and efforts that led to
the adoption of the draft constitution which provides for gender
equality and the Protection of women from all forms of violence
which includes gender based and domestic violence.
WiPSU applauds
efforts by women politicians who handed over a petition to Senate
president Edna Madzongwe over rising cases of violence against women
and children in Zimbabwe ahead of the referendum and general elections.
More efforts need to be done for the total eradication of gender
based violence.
Zimbabwe is
set to hold elections in this year, there is need to ensure that
the country avoids unwarranted violence and intimidation that has
characterized previous processes as women and children happen to
be the most affected in such situations.
WiPSU remains
committed to fighting for a democratic space that allows for the
respect of the rights of women. Under the 50/50 campaign, WiPSU
urges everyone to vote for a woman, for a violence free Zimbabwe.
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