Bulawayo comes second in gender violence cases

BULAWAYO is second after Masvingo in cases of gender-based violence recorded this year (2010), an official said.

Musasa Project director Ms Nettie Musanhu said in an interview recently that Masvingo recorded 299 rape cases this year.

Bulawayo came second after recording 259 while Harare recorded 209 rape cases.

Although she could not give the statistics of other forms of gender-based violence, Ms Musanhu said most murder cases related to gender-based violence recorded at the High Court were reported in Masvingo or involved people who had a Masvingo backgroud.

"Masvingo has a high rate of gender-based violence cases compared to other places in the country.

The figures are definitely higher as these are cases that are reported to the police then handed over to the courts. Some cases go unreported as women prefer the traditional courts to solve their issues," said Ms Musanhu.

She attributed the high rates in Masvingo to a strong cultural background that discriminates against women.

"Masvingo has one of the strongest cultural backgrounds in the country where most men view women as owned assets that have to be controlled under all circumstances.

Most men want to assert their positions as bread winners in the homes and when women want to empower themselves and fend for the families, it becomes a problem and men resort to violence," she said.

Most cases were going unreported as a majority of women in the province were using other solutions in the community.
"Most women prefer going to traditional courts to resolve their disputes which are usually not solved as it is part of culture for women to cope in marriages under all circumstances.

The socialisation of patriarchy is being passed from one generation to the other while women continue to be on the receiving end of gender-based violence," said Mrs Musanhu.

An official from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development who spoke on condition of anonymity attributed the rise of violence to culture and the abuse of home brewed alcohol, popularly known as utshwala bezigodo.

"The home brew popularly known as seven days is a more powerful drink as is umkumbi brewed from amarula fruits and these two types of beers are very popular in Masvingo.

"When men drink too much, they tend to resort to violence among themselves and abuse their wives when they get home or find themselves in court for rape or other charges of assault," said the official.

He said it was difficult for women to raise their voices as they were rated as second class citizens who must first consult before they could talk at traditional gatherings.

"The issue of gender-based violence campaigns might also be the reason because when women take part in such campaigns, men tend to feel uncomfortable and resort to violence," said the official.

Ms Musanhu said it was important for the law to be institutionalised in the traditional courts for the country to win the fight against gender-based violence.
"As long as we have not institutionalised the law in the traditional courts, gender-based violence will not stop, especially in areas such as Masvingo.

The law upholds the customary law and something has to be done to protect women," she said