BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
A Bulawayo women’s rights group has expressed concern over the spike in gender-based violence (GBV) cases since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown on March 30.
Just last week, a dispute over which TV channel to watch turned fatal after a man was axed to death for failing to reprimand their daughter over the misunderstanding.
The Emthonjeni Women’s Forum (EWF) said it had been attending to more GBV cases during the lockdown period compared to the previous months, with over 30 cases recorded in the past three weeks.
“EWF has attended to more GBV cases from the inception of the lockdown.
“The sharp increase has exceeded the average monthly figures. This is in comparison to the number of cases that were received in January, February and March,” said Melissa Ndlovu, the programmes manager for EWF.
“The lockdown thus confines the victim and perpetrator in the same space, placing the victim at high risk.
“Zimbabwe is characterised by an informal economy and most livelihoods have been disturbed/interrupted by the lock down.
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“A lot of frustration and pressure towards supporting and providing for the family are part of the factors escalating GBV.”
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube, however, said police had not seen a difference in the number of GBV cases.
“We have had nothing amiss with regard to GBV cases in the past weeks,” he said. “I would want to believe people are able to co-habit or stay with their partners.”
Mpofu said her organisation was providing online counselling services for victims of GBV.
“EWF is also currently providing online psychosocial support through counselling services and referrals where necessary,” Mpofu said, adding the “EWF has also shared a survival kit for men…towards managing frustration and tempers.”
According to the United Nations Population Fund, about one in three women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and about one in four women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 in Zimbabwe.
