Unbelievable increase in GBV cases and deaths
Unbelievable increase in GBV cases and deaths
Since January of this year, gender-based violence (GBV) has resulted in a startling 16 444 incidents in Zimbabwe and 31 fatalities, with men being identified as the primary perpetrators.
Speaking yesterday at the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe-organized media workshop on 16 days of activism against GBV in Harare, national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi stated that the issue needed to be addressed immediately.
“In the year 2022, we had 26 females who were killed by their partners. This year, we have 31 killed,” Nyathi said.
“The issue of domestic violence is so real and as we move towards the end of the year, the Commissioner-General of Police [Godwin Matanga] will present his report mid-January and we will see how the figures would be.”
He said men were the primary perpetrators of violence.
“From January to October 2023, we received about 16 444 cases where females have been abused and 2 463 cases where men have been abused. So basically, the girl child and females are victims of violence,” he said.
Nyathi also raised concern over journalists and other women victims not reporting cases of sexual harassment at their workplaces.
Speaking at the same event Women Affairs minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government remains committed to preventing and reducing violence against women and girls.
According to her, the National policy for Preventing and Addressing GBV, a policy document that will serve as a guide for GBV programming, is being reviewed by the government. This month is when the plan is anticipated to be unveiled.
Golden Maunganidze, the chairperson of Misa Zimbabwe, stated that the organization was taking steps to guarantee that women could freely exercise their freedom in the media industry.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary-general Perfect Hlongwane, said there was need for media houses to put in place measures that protect women from sexual harassment.
Ziyambi said the government had tightened laws against GBV by criminalising child marriages through the Marriages Act, while pushing for the criminalisation of sexual activities with minors under the age of 18.
