POLICE have been urged to be sensitive when dealing with victims of gender-based-violence (GBV).
BY SOFIA MAPURANGA
Speaking at a meeting organised by SAfAids to mark International Women’s Day in Harare last week, several speakers expressed concern at the way cases of GBV were being handled at various police stations across the country.
They said at times the police interrogated the victims as if they were the perpetrators of the offences.
Among those who expressed their dissatisfaction were child parliamentarians, women and legislators.
Some speakers claimed that police officers “were so hard” when dealing with victims of GBV to an extent that abused women and girls were afraid of making reports.
A woman from Chitungwiza, who refused to be named, said her sister’s child was raped three years ago by her neighbour’s teenage boys, but to date, the police had done nothing to ensure that justice prevailed.
police officers now appear to be siding with parents of the perpetrators, she said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“One police officer even told us to drop the case saying it had taken more than three years to conclude,” she complained. “We are likely to lose it. so we are better off letting sleeping dogs lie.”
Junior parliamentarian, Mazvita Marova lamented lack of co-ordination between the health centres and the police in assisting victims of GBV.
She said rape victims were sometimes tossed between the hospital and the police without getting any assistance.
She said at times victims of rape visit the hospital first, wanting to get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a drug administered to reduce the risk of HIV infection, only to be told to first get a police report.
“We are not sure where to go first because at the police you are told to report the matter within 72 hours, but getting medical assistance is also deemed just as important because they would want evidence that indeed you have been raped,” said the junior legislator.
Southern Africa Young Women’s Network (SAYWNet) programmes officer, Beatrice Savadye said there was need for thorough and speedy investigation by the police when dealing with rape cases.
“The Victim Friendly Units (VFUs) should be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that women and girls are able to report their cases,” she said.
“As it is, VFUs are only open Monday to Friday during working hours, yet GBV is a daily occurrence that is not restricted to working hours.”
Deputy chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, who is also the MDC-T Glen view North MP, Fani Munengami said the failure by police to protect victims defeated the whole purpose of laws being enacted.
“There is need for government to capacitate the department that implements the law that protects women and girls against GBV,” said Munengami.
Assistant Inspector Tsisti Nyamupinga from ZRP’s VFU admitted that there were some officers who were failing to deal properly with cases of GBV.
“There are police officers who are failing to do their job,” she said.
“This is why we have established the VFU, where there are officers who are specially trained to assist victims of GBV,” she said. She cited the example where only women were arrested for loitering yet those women would be in the company of men.
“The officers are supposed to arrest both [men and women] and not segregate on the basis of gender,” said Nyamupinga.
She however, urged the public to report cases of GBV early “because delaying the process would result in evidence being lost, making the cases difficult to solve”.
Cops must exhibit fairness and transparency: Parirenyatwa
Former Minister of Health and Child Welfare, David Parirenyatwa said there was need for the police to exhibit fairness, transparency and care for the population.
“The police must recognise criticism because the country needs the police to enforce the law, not to be cruel. They should be fair, transparent and care for the population,” said Parirenyatwa.
SAfAids deputy director, Aulora Stally said there was need to raise awareness to ensure “an end to violence against women and children”.
“There is need for more education and awareness on GBV issues to ensure that women are capacitated to know their rights and take action against perpetrators of violence,” she said.
In a report released in December 2012, the police indicated that more than 2 400 girls under the age of 18 were victims of rape between January and October 2012.
A preliminary report of the national baseline survey on the life experiences of adolescents in Zimbabwe released by the government last year also indicated that about one third of girls experience sexual violence before they turn 18 years.
The International Women’s Day, observed every year, is set aside to celebrate women and their economic, political, and social achievements around the world.
It is also a time to focus on places and situations where women’s rights, equality, health and safety still have a long way to go.
