'The Gumburas will be waiting for us in church, men are our problem' - Zim women'

Isabel Masuka (39), murdered in her sleep by her husband and, leaving behind two children last month, typifies a nasty case of gender based violence that was yesterday condemned by various women pressure groups who called for an end of such acts.

"I am hurt that she was killed by a man she had cooked for that night; as if she gave her the strength to take away her life," said her father, who spoke at a gathering following the solidarity march against Gender Based Violence (GBV) organised by the Women's University in Africa (WUA).

Masuka, who was due to graduate with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Sociology with the WUA in August, has been one of several cases of GBV, adding on to recent statistics by the ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development in conjunction with Gender Links that show that at least 68% of women in Zimbabwe have suffered from GBV perpetrated by men.

The minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Oppah Muchinguri, attributed the causes to cultural values created by men who have a powerful position in a patriarchal Zimbabwean society.

"It is not easy to shake patriarchy, men are our problem. They are the ones who define culture, and they bent it when it suites them," she said.

"Home is no longer a safe place for women and girls. They are blamed for wearing a mini-skirt, what of those who rape three months old babies; do they wear mini skirts too? If we run away from home and go to the church, the Gumburas will be there waiting. The family and church institution need to be made safe for women."

Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe chairperson Virginia Muwanigwa castigated those who seek justification for GBV.

"Lets not make an excuse for GBV, we always want to ask what could have happened. Marriage is only as good as it is, marriage. At some point we need to accept that it is over. One thing I wish people to take with them is, let none of you be a perpetrator of violence, let's not be a supporter of GBV, let marriage be a place of happiness," Muwanigwa said.

Famous television personality Rebecca Chisamba also spoke against parents who encourage their daughters to hang in an abusive marriage

"Our parents used to say ndiuraye handibvi pano (beat me to death, I wont leave my marriage), but that should not be the case anymore."

WUA founding Vice Chancellor Hope Sadza urged women to speak out against GBV saying: "This is the beginning of our long march to end GBV, we should not keep quiet. Speaking out does not mean fighting men, but talking things through."