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A family Counsellor with Musasa Project, Sibongile Chidhakwa (55), is being accused by her estranged husband, Slyt Chidhakwa (65), of faking medical reports to ensure that he is imprisoned so that she could grab his property.
As reported by <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/who-will-counsel-family-counsellor-another-marriage-breaks-down-for-musasa-project-counsellor-estranged-husband-claims-she-faked-assault-medical-reports/">H-Metro</a>, the two are both divorcees and are now living separately as their four-year marriage teeters on the brink of collapse.
Slyt told H-Metro that Sibongile used her connections to fake medical reports and get him arrested with the sole intention of gaining sole possession of his property. He said:
<blockquote>
I regret marrying Sibongile. I didn’t know that she was after my property.
We both came into this marriage with our own children and our own property.
We have no children together but Sibongile wanted to take all my property by sending me to prison.
She faked an assault and medical reports to get me arrested.
I slept in a police holding cell for two nights after she faked medical documents.
She was arrested for faking GBV, producing a fake medical report and stealing my valuables, including bank cards and trying to withdraw US$80 000.
She was arrested by Southerton police under CRB 2969/23 and 3044/23.
She connived with one of her brothers and took some of my property.
I question her integrity in counselling families when she fails to maintain her own marriage.
</blockquote>
Sibongile, popularly known as Princess at Musasa Project, confirmed the differences between her and Slyt but declined to give more details. She said:
<blockquote>
The issue is so sensitive that I need to sit down with you for details.
I also want one of my sons to be present since he is a lawyer.
I do not know where my husband is staying right now, maybe he disclosed his place to you.
</blockquote>
Musasa Project is an organisation that focuses on promoting gender equality, and women’s rights, and combating gender-based violence.
It provides support services, advocacy, and empowerment programs for women and girls in Zimbabwe.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Musasa Project Family Counsellor Divorces, Again

Traditional and religious leaders have been challenged to play an active role in preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), such as child marriages.
Speaking on Sunday, 26 November during the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV at Hauna Growth Point in Mutasa District, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, said those involved in child marriages should be exposed. She said:
<blockquote>
As we mark the beginning of the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, I want to appeal to our traditional leaders and religious leaders to play a pivotal role in the prevention of GBV and harmful practices.
As a society, we must be alert and expose such criminals who are robbing children of their future and ensure that they are brought before the law.
Our Constitution is very clear on who a child is and who can enter marriage, but despite that, we still have young girls who are taken into marriage where they are expected to assume adult roles as brides.
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/8-safe-spaces-set-up-for-gbv-survivors/">The Herald</a> reported Mutsvangwa as saying eight discreet safe spaces for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors in Manicaland Province have been established
The Marriages Act Chapter 5:17 outlawed child marriages by setting the age of marriage at 18 and criminalising child marriages.
The minimum mandatory sentencing for convicted rape perpetrators has been set at 15 years.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2019 showed that 34 percent of girls in Zimbabwe are married before the age of 18,.5 percent are married before their 15th birthday and 2 percent of boys in Zimbabwe are married before their 18th birthday.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, Zimbabwe experienced a surge in teenage pregnancies and child marriages as a result of the prolonged closure of schools.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Traditional And Religious Leaders Challenged To Play Active Role In Preventing GBV

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says it is committed to fighting all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Speaking on the sidelines of commemorations of 16 Days against GBV, Acting Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector, Fungai Ngawagare said:
<blockquote>
We cannot turn a blind eye to such an initiative (16 days) which is part of efforts in curbing crime.
In this regard, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is obliged to uphold the interests of children, women and men in the fight against all forms of Sexual Gender Based Violence.
Gender-Based Violence is violence involving men and women in which the female is usually the victim and is derived from unequal power relationships between men and women.
Violence is directed specifically against a woman because she is a woman, or affects women disproportionately.
It includes but is not limited to physical, sexual, and psychological harm. It includes that violence which is perpetuated or condoned by the state.
</blockquote>
She said ZRP was working with organisations that protect the rights of vulnerable people in society which include Msasa, One Stop Centre, Childline, Family Support Trust and Social Welfare.
Every year from 25 November to 10 December, the ZRP women’s network joins the Southern Africa Region Police Chiefs Co-operation Organization (SARPCCO) in commemorating 16 days of activism against GBV.
The SARPCCO member countries include South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, Malawi, Tanzania and DRC. | <a href="https://tellzim.com/zrp-commits-to-improve-response-to-gbv/">TellZim News</a>

We Are Committed To Fighting Gender Based Violence - ZRP

Police in Bulawayo have advised women who are involved in romantic relationships with men but are in the habit of flirting or worse, with other men to delete their WhatsApp chats from their phones before they get home to avoid being beaten up or killed by their partners.
Police say a majority of reported gender-based violence cases emanate from intercepted social media messages – particularly on WhatsApp.
Addressing residents over a loud hailer as female police officers marched through Bulawayo CBD on Wednesday to mark 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, ZRP spokesperson in Bulawayo Province, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, said:
<blockquote>
Women, if you have side deals, if you’ve some miscellaneous that you’re doing on the phone just delete before you get home.
We know you’ve rights to your phone and you’ve protection under the law but when you get home and you’re now two, and you’re being asked who Jack is, you already have conflict.
Our view as police is that prevention is better than cure. You’ll come to the police to report, but already you have been assaulted, or worse.
</blockquote>
Recently, a 32-year-old man from Old Pumula suburb in Bulawayo was ordered to pay a ZWL$18 000 fine or spend three months in prison for assaulting his wife after she refused to give him her phone password.
The man, Nkosilathi Ngwenya, assaulted his wife, Samukeliso Ncube (28), on 26 October after she refused to give him her phone password.
Ngwenya suspected that his wife was cheating on him. | <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/12/police-tell-women-to-delete-whatsapp-messages-to-reduce-domestic-violence/">ZimLive</a>

Police Advise Women To Delete WhatsApp Chats To Prevent Gender-based Violence

A man from Bulawayo is on the run after he allegedly assaulted his wife with a machete following a misunderstanding over a phone call during the wee hours of the morning.
Police in Bulawayo have confirmed the incident but did not give the names of the suspect and his victim.
ZRP spokesperson in Bulawayo Province said the complainant, who is 25 years old, received a phone call from her younger sister from Esigodini at around 1 AM on Monday.
The husband suspected that the call was from another man and started accusing his wife of infidelity and an altercation arose.
The man allegedly took his wife’s phone and smashed it on the wall, then went outside and came back holding a machete.
He used the weapon to strike the complainant several times resulting in her sustaining several cuts on different parts of her body.
The wife managed to flee and sought refuge at a neighbour’s house who then phoned the police and made a report.
The wife was taken to the hospital for treatment. Asst Insp Msebele said:
<blockquote>
As police, we warn members of the public to desist from violence and always find the befitting way of solving their differences.
We also appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused person.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/man-attacks-wife-with-machete-over-a-phone-call/">The Sunday News</a>

Man Attacks Wife With Machete Over A phone Call

Police in Bulawayo have raised concern over increasing cases of gender-based violence in the city.
Female police officers under the banner ZRP Bulawayo Province Women Network on Tuesday held a march in the city centre under the theme, ‘All lives matter! End gender-based violence now’.
The march was held in partnership with organisations such as Family Support Trust, Contact Family Counselling Centre and Justice for Children Trust.
Speaking at the event, Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele urged parents to protect their children following the raping of an 18-month-old baby recently. Said Asst Insp Msebele:
<blockquote>
We are commemorating 16 days of activism against gender-based violence as we have noticed that we have these cases within us.
We have noticed that women wake up in the morning to go to the market and leave their children unattended.
The youngest case we have in Bulawayo is of a 1 year and six months who was raped, just imagine this, where was the mother of the child? It is our responsibility to protect these children.
</blockquote>
Chairperson of the ZRP Bulawayo Province Women Network, Chief Superintendent Lethiwe Mhandu also implored parents and guardians to protect their children. She said:
<blockquote>
We have seen children from the age of five up to even 12 years old, they are being raped by their fathers, male relatives and their neighbours.
It is our responsibility as parents to protect these children, they are vulnerable members of the community.
As police, we urge communities to monitor and know the whereabouts of their children and report all sexual offences within 72 hours so as to obtain post-exposure prophylaxis as it also helps the police to gather evidence.
</blockquote>
Chief Superintendent Mhandu also urged men who are victims of GBV to report the abuse so that the perpetrators are held accountable. | <a href="https://cite.org.zw/police-march-against-gender-based-violence/">CITE</a>

Policewomen March Against Gender-based Violence

A 29-year-old man from Bulawayo was arrested for murder after he allegedly ran over his wife with a truck during a domestic dispute.
Police said Tendai Tigere Gondo allegedly killed his wife, Sanele Ndlovu (21) along Chaplain Road in Kumalo last Friday.
After the incident, Gondo is reported to have stage-managed a hit-and-run accident and made a false report to ZRP Bulawayo traffic.
In an unrelated incident, Police in Mazowe are looking for several suspects in connection with the murder of a member of a rival group while illegally mining gold at Jumbo Mine. Police said in a statement:
<blockquote>
Police in Mazowe are investigating a case of murder which occurred on 17/09/22 at Jumbo Mine Mazowe.
The victim, only identified as Avon, was stabbed to death with an unidentified sharp object on the thigh by members of a rival group while illegally mining gold.
Some of the suspects were only identified as Black, Prosper, Madhinda, Morgan, Ever and Sistone. Anyone with information to contact any nearest Police Station.
</blockquote>

Man Runs Over Wife With A Truck In Domestic Dispute

The Hopley One Stop Centre being run by Musasa Project says it has served a total of 500 women and girls who experienced gender-based violence (GBV) and other forms of violence over the past 10 months.
Hopley is supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development.
Speaking during a visit to the centre by the UNFPA East and Southern Africa Director, Lydia Zigomo, Musasa Project Program Manager, Sharon Matingwina said:
<blockquote>
We usually implement once a week in a month, and we rotate stations but this is the most common one and strategically so because it attracts a lot of women.
The entry point can be coming in for clinical services that can be coming in youth empowerment services so it’s very strategic, we get to meet a lot of women and adolescents girls and young women.
We work closely with the Victim Friendly Unit (VFU), the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and the Ministry of Women Affairs so that we give a comprehensive package of services.
We have our Information hub in case someone just wasn’t to get a flier or just basic information about what we are offering here in Hopley and all the other centres that we are implementing.
</blockquote>
She said a large number of young women come through to get services and most of them are young mothers or pregnant teenagers.
The young girls and women are given dignity kits to ensure they have access to sanitary wear, toiletries and other hygiene kits.
Matingwina said the One Stop Centre was now receiving GBV clients from farming areas around Harare. She said:
<blockquote>
We have also realized that in the past weeks, some survivors are coming from farming sites such as retreat and Stoneridge.
We have tried to make sure that our mobile centre is not only stationed here but we go inside Hopley with our One Stop Center just to make sure women from all works of life get comprehensive packages of care.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://healthtimes.co.zw/2022/09/20/musasa-one-stop-centre-assists-500-gbv-survivors/">Health Times</a>

Musasa One Stop Centre Assists 500 GBV Survivors

Traditional healers (n’angas) and apostolic healers are among the perpetrators of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls with disabilities.
This was said by Public Service and Social Development, director of disability affairs Christine Peta in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com. Said Peta:
<blockquote>
It is a growing problem that needs to be nipped because women with disabilities are being sexually abused by apostolic sect healers and traditional healers.
There is a huge problem here in Zimbabwe of women and girls with disabilities facing (SGBV).
We are seeing prophets from the apostolic sect telling women with mantle disabilities that if they want to be healed they should sleep with them.
I heard from the spirit that it is the only way to heal you and make you whole again without disability.
</blockquote>
Peta said the healers sexually abuse disabled women and girls on the pretext that they will be healed if they consent to sexual intercourse with them. She said:
<blockquote>
If you want to get out of the wheelchair you should sleep with me, this is happening in the apostolic sect and traditional healers.
In our research, we have found that the healing process at these places is shrouded in SGBV.
</blockquote>
Women Coalition of Zimbabwe (WiCoZ) national coordinator Sally Dura said:
<blockquote>
As WiCoZ, we will engage traditional healers and faith-based organisations in coming up with ways of tackling SGBV against women and girls.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/gvt-blames-nangas-apostolic-sects-for-escalating-gbv-cases/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

N'angas, Faith Healers Implicated In Sexual Gender-based Violence

A woman from Pumula South suburb has obtained a protection order against her former husband who habitually posts her nude images on social media and physically assaults her.
Thabeth Moyo (36) separated from her husband Mandla Nkolomi (39) and went to live with her parents.
However, Nkolomi would visit Moyo and demand to be intimate with her and when she refuses, he would hurl unprintable words at her.
Nkolomi insists on being intimate with his ex-wife telling her that he paid lobola and she was still his wife because their eight-year marriage has not been formally dissolved.
He forcibly took her phone and sent all her nude images to his phone. Nkolomi is now posting her nudes on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Moyo said when her ex-husband’s friends see her with any man, they would inform him and then he would phone her, and call her a prostitute. In her founding affidavit, Moyo said:
<blockquote>
I have been married to Mandla Nkolomi for the past eight years. We separated in May this year because he was physically, verbally and psychologically abusing me. I’m now staying with my parents.
He usually comes to my parents’ place and demands to sleep with me. When I refuse he would become angry and would assault me with fists.
He took my phone and is now sending my nude pictures on WhatsApp groups and Facebook to ruin my reputation. He is also in the habit of shouting obscenities at me.
</blockquote>
Magistrate Jeconia Prince Ncube granted Moyo a protection order against her former husband.
She ordered Nkolomi not to physically, verbally and psychologically abuse Moyo and to stop sending her images on WhatsApp groups and Facebook.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.bmetro.co.zw/ex-hubby-assaults-woman-posts-nudes/">B-Metro</a></h4>

"Bitter" Man Posts Ex-Wife's Bedroom Photos On Social Media

Mashonaland East Province has the highest number of male prisoners jailed for gender-based violence (GBV) in 2021, figures released by the Zimbabwe Prison Correctional Services (ZPCS) on Monday show.
The province had 445 male inmates jailed for GBV this year alone while Manicaland Province has the lowest number of men jailed for related crimes, with just 25.
Mashonaland West Province came in second behind Manicaland, with 364 men jailed for GBV, followed by Bulawayo Province with 350.
Mashonaland Central has 231, Masvingo 177, Midlands 94, Harare 72, Matabeleland South 70, and Matabeleland North has 55 male GBV inmates.
The total number of men jailed for GBV countrywide in 2021 stood at 1 834.
In terms of females jailed for GBV, Mash East again tops the provinces with 11 inmates, with Mat North having the lowest number, just 1.
Mash West had 8 female perpetrators of GBV, Midlands had 7, Bulawayo had 6, Masvingo had three, while Mat South and Mash Central had 4 each.
In total, 49 women are serving prison terms for GBV-related crimes.
Information from ZPSC shows that for male males jailed for GBV in 2020, the figures were as follows: Mashonaland West (522), Manicaland (43), Bulawayo (460), Mashonaland East (301), Masvingo (179), Midlands (96), Matabeleland South (72), Harare (68), Matabeleland North (58), and Manicaland (43).
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mash-east-tops-gbv-offenders-list/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Mashonaland East Leads In GBV Cases

Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent), says a majority of married Zimbabwean men are suffering silently at home as they are being beaten by their spouses.
Mliswa called on the government to include men in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) programmes saying most of them were being ill-treated by their spouses or women colleagues at work and other different spheres of social life.
He said this while following up on Women Affairs Minister Sithembiso Nyoni’s response to MDC Alliance Proportional Representation MP Lindiwe Maphosa who had asked how the government was tackling the issue of GBV acceleration due to COVID-19. Said Mliswa:
<blockquote>
The minister (Sithembiso Nyoni) did not say anything about men who are also being beaten and shouted at by women especially those who are married. At least l do not have a wife. The men are under siege.
</blockquote>
Women Affairs Minister Nyoni admitted women had become agents of violence too. She said:
<blockquote>
This is a serious problem across gender that needs to be looked at and resolved amicably. GBV has become another pandemic.
… We are also working with civil society organisations and other government ministries to deal with the problem.
Drug and alcohol abuse especially in growth centres has become another challenge in our society but the problems are emanating from a bigger underlying issue.
We need to find out and nip this bug which has resulted in the abuse of these substances by our children.
</blockquote>
The minister also commended those men who were forming organisations that deal with men’s issues.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zim-husbands-under-siege-from-their-spouses-mliswa/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Married Zimbabwean Men Under Siege - Mliswa

<blockquote>Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART) notes a disturbing video circulating where bus operators, hwindis or conductors are abusing and insulting a woman passenger at a local bus station. This is very disturbing and as ZNOART we condemn this in the strongest terms.
As residents and passengers, we demand that police arrest these culprits immediately. In a modern society where passengers have freedom of choice and women carry the society’s future, such kind of behaviour has no place.
We have noticed these abuses happening at every bus station across all the cities countrywide. These abuses also include verbal abuses especially to defenceless women, resulting in vulgar language being thrown around the termini and in the process leading to cultural erosion. Such abuses must stop.
ZRP in collaboration with council police must act NOW towards making the bus termini user friendly. This can only be done through arresting touts thereby reducing touting within the vicinity of bus termini in order to promote sanity.
We also call upon local councils to be in full control of their bus termini. Further to that, the councils must refurbish bus terminuses which are largely in a dilapidated state.
WE CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR OUR PASSENGERS ESPECIALLY OUR WOMEN</blockquote>

ZNOART Condemns Harassment Of Female Passengers By Touts {Full Statement}

Over 900 young girls below the age of 18 are among 2 496 women who were raped during the last half of 2020.
Some 900 young girls below the age of 18 were raped in the last quarter of 2020 alone, compared to 836 cases reported during the same period in 2019.
This was revealed Thursday by the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Sithembiso Nyoni.
Nyoni said this while presenting a ministerial statement on the level of public service delivery related to sexual and gender-based violence in the COVID-19 pandemic in Parliament.
She further said the police Victim Friendly Unit received 1 222 cases of rape in the third quarter of 2020 and 1 274 cases countrywide in the fourth quarter. Said Nyoni:
<blockquote>We acknowledge that this is a time of great anxiety, uncertainty and stress for many as normal life routines are changed.
Women and girls who constitute the greater percentage of GBV survivors find themselves trapped in homes with abusive husbands, fathers, brothers and family members with limited access to protection and support services.
… The community has to know that it is criminal to withhold such information as well as failure to report abuse and rape of minors.</blockquote>
Nyoni bemoaned a rise in cases of teenage pregnancies, with a total of 4 959 teen pregnancies as well as 1 774 child marriages recorded between January to 5 February 2021.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/900-girls-raped-in-three-months/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

900 Girls Below The Age Of 18 Raped In 3 Months

<blockquote>FORM OF COMPLAINT
We, the undersigned, 
Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, of 31 Harvey Brown, Milton Park, Harare
DRAW the attention of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to the following:
Over the past couple of hours, news outlets have reported on emerging details of the country’s Vice President, Kembo Mohadi being involved in ‘illicit’ relationships with his female subordinates.
Due to the power dynamics of the parties involved, this has compelled calls for investigations on possibilities of sexual harassment within the office of the Vice President.
Sexual harassment in the workplace has been a topical issue that affects many women in both the private and public sector and the handling of this case determines the country’s willingness to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace and give victims and survivors hope.
Under national law, Section 24 of the Constitution is an aspirational provision of the right to work. In light of this provision, Section 65 then confers labour rights on every person and refers to the right to fair and safe practices and standards.
By its definition, an act of sexual harassment constitutes a violation of the constitutionally protected right to fair labour standards and also violates the right to full and equal dignity.
The right to fair and safe labour standards is further realized under the provisions of the Labour Act [Chapter28:01] whose primary purpose is the regulation of the employer-employee relationship.
Under this provision, engaging in unwelcome sexually determined behaviour towards an employee, whether verbal or otherwise, such as making physical contact or advances, sexually coloured remarks or displaying pornographic material in the workplace constitutes commission of unfair labour practice.
For employees in the public service, Section 4 of the Public Service Regulations S.I 1 of 2000 provides for ‘discourteous behaviour’ during the course of duty to include sexual harassment.
In the context of the Regulations discourteous refers to rude, ill-mannered or impolite behaviour.
Workplace sexual harassment largely goes unreported in the country because most perpetrators go unpunished and the existing form of punishment does not hinder perpetrators from displaying the same conduct.
Gender inequality at work is a reflection of inequalities that are within the patriarchal society and as such, sexist attitudes and behaviours that lead to GBV outside the work continue.
According to research conducted by Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ)- [2020], fifty-seven per cent of women surveyed reported that they needed to offer sexual favours in exchange for jobs, medical care and even when seeking placements at schools for their children.
This is a result of the unavailability of laws that clearly criminalise or define sexual harassment, especially in the workplace.
Whilst we take cognisance of the fact that this could be a private matter of two consenting adults that has been merely leaked to the public, it is our position that the majority of women are not safe in their workplace as they are victims of many forms of gender-based violence and are more likely to experience sexual harassment.
This has negatively impacted the lives of women by placing ceilings on women’s professions.
We highlight that fact that THE SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, Article 22, requires state parties by 2015 to enact legislative provisions and adopt and implement policies and strategies which define and prohibit sexual harassment in all spheres and provide deterrent sanctions for perpetrators of sexual violence.
It is crystal clear that the laws currently in place are not adequate to protect women from sexual harassment either in the workplace or in tertiary institutions.
It is nearly impossible to seek redress of a challenge that the law does not specifically and explicitly define as sexual harassment, given the fact that the Labour Act itself is silent on what constitutes sexual harassment.
Additionally, the Beijing Platform for Action recognizes sexual harassment as a form of violence against women and as a form of discrimination.
It calls on multiple actors including the government to ensure that government enacts laws on sexual harassment and the employer develop Anti-harassment policies and prevention strategies.
This action is also reiterated in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and in the Protocol to The Charter on Human and Peoples Rights of Women in Africa.
This is an opportune time to advocate for Government to ratify the ILO Convention 190 which establishes new global standards aimed at ending violence and harassment in the world of work.
Violence and harassment in the world of work deprive people of their dignity, is incompatible with decent work, and a threat to equal opportunities and to safe, healthy, and productive working environments.
It remains a widespread phenomenon, present in all countries and disregarding sectors, occupations and work arrangements.
With respect, we make a humble plea that, should the Zimbabwe Gender Commission find the situation not dire enough, in order to warrant intervention, then by all means the women of Zimbabwe shall consider the Commission to have relinquished its Constitutionally charged duties which are established in section 246 of the Constitution whose provisions include:
To investigate possible violations of rights relating to gender equality
To receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as it considers appropriate
To advise public and private institutions on steps to be taken to ensure gender equality.
To secure appropriate redress where rights relating to gender have been violated
We confirm that to our knowledge, this matter is not pending before any Court or legal body for determination
THEREFORE your humble complainants Pray that the Commission receives and considers this complaint and to take such action in regard to the complaint as the Commission considers appropriate.
And your COMPLAINANTS will ever Pray.
The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe</blockquote>

Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe Statement On VP Mohadi's 'Illicit' Relationships {Full Text}

ZANU PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa on Thursday called for the arrest of MDC Alliance (MDC-A) vice president Tendai Biti for alleged gender-based violence (GBV).
Addressing a routine press conference at the party’s headquarters in Harare, Chinamasa said it is repulsive that aspiring national leaders are key culprits in perpetuating GBV. Said Chinamasa:
<blockquote>We condemn very strongly the allegations of gender-based violence that are being levelled against Biti where he (sic) mishandled a lady at the Harare Magistrates Court and Zanu PF calls upon the law enforcement agents to thoroughly investigate that issue without fear or favour and to take the necessary action that is warranted by the evidence that comes out of the investigation.
In this day and age, we do not expect leaders or persons who are aspiring to be leaders of Zimbabwe and who are already leaders of the opposition to be the key culprits in perpetuating and perpetrating gender-based violence.</blockquote>
Chinamasa also called on Zimbabwe to remain steadfast and resilient and to vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 harmonised elections.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/12/ed-our-own-mbuya-nehanda-chinamasa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewsDay</a></h4>

Chinamasa Calls For Biti's Arrest

IThemba for Girls Trust has expressed concern over the Government’s seemingly lackadaisical approach in dealing with sexual violence against girls which has resulted in some as young as 12 years old falling pregnant and dropping out of school.
In a statement commemorating The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), IThemba called on communities to move away from patriarchal values that allow for the sexualization of girls at a young age. It said:
<blockquote>Whilst very little to no research has been done to gather statistics on the number of young girls who have fallen pregnant due to sexual violence, we are concerned with how men are taking advantage of young girls from poor communities.
It looks like the government has no strategy of protecting young girls from sexual violence and it continuously remains the responsibility of affected communities to come up with solutions on how to protect their young girls.
Communities need to do away with patriarchal values that allow for the sexualization of girls at a young age and rather create an environment where girls can live and move around freely without men passing sexual remarks about or towards them.</blockquote>
IThemba also called for drastic measures to be taken to end GBV and Sexual Violence on young girls such as imposing stiffer sentences for perpetrators. It added:
<blockquote>Whilst we are advocating for stiffer sentences for perpetrators we also need work towards introducing programs at an early age in schools, churches and other places of convergence for young people.
The goal is to transform their mindsets in a positive way with regards to their perception and subsequent treatment of females.
… We need to socialize [boys] so that they respect and identify themselves as equals to girls, with the hope that they will grow up to be responsible men who shun from any form of violence against women and girls.</blockquote>

IThemba Bemoans Govt's Lack Of Strategy To Combat GBV Against Girls

Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) secretary-general <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kenneth_Mtata" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kenneth Mtata</a> has called upon the church to speak out against gender-based violence (GBV).
Addressing key stakeholders at the launch of the “Speak Out Campaign” held in Harare on Wednesday, Mtata said:
<blockquote>The reason why the Church must address violence in all its forms is that we know that violence begets violence.
Gender-based violence has become a permanent signature in our public life and if are going to arrest the power of violence in our families, we need to start to speak the message of peace and to build arms of peace.</blockquote>
The launch of the “Speak Out Campaign” brought together hundreds of congregants and development partners ahead of the annual 16 Days of Activism against GBV commemorated between November 25 and December 10.
Mtata showed how GBV is sometimes upheld in workplaces and urged Christians to help victims find justice when everything else has failed.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2019/11/08/churches-urged-to-speak-against-gender-violence" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

Mtata Urges Churches To Speak Against Gender-based Violence

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