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Gender Forum With Ruth Butaumocho
Today marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence commemorations with the Government and civil society calling for the adoption of a zero tolerance approach to violence in the homes and at community level. This year’s commemorations come at a time when Zimbabwe isgrappling with an unprecedented increase in gender-based violence cases. The sad part of this debacle is that gender-based violence has in the last few years taken many forms from a mere spat in the home, exchange of words between two people to blows, injuries and eventually, death.

The global theme is “Peace begins at home. End violence and empower women.” Statistics from the police show that killings and murders owing to domestic violence are on the rise.

Without taking anything away from the organised events that will take place throughout the country and elsewhere in the region during the next 16 days, the commemorations are yet to achieve much in terms of curbing violence among men and women. Yes, the majority of Zimbabweans are now aware of gender based violence and its consequences. Sadly perpetrators of violence are not using the information to reduce the incidences of gender based violence if events on the ground are anything to write home about.

“Woman murdered over infidelity,” “Hubby attacks wife with screw driver, hammer” “Man burnt with cooking oil,” Husband threatens to kill wife,” screamed some of the headlines in yesterday different publications in Harare, as most organisations were busy putting final touches to their campaign material in preparation for the launch today.

All these bizarre stories were pointing out to very serious problems of domestic violence which have become almost institutionalised in communities, with societies battling to control the problem.

It has actually become a daily occurrence that at least two people are brutalised and sometimes killed in domestic violence brawls; against a backdrop of serious awareness campaigns Zimbabwe has been holding for the past two decades to curb violence in the homes.

Even the figures on the ground show that domestic violence is a serious problem that Zimbabwe will not wish way by mere holding month long campaigns without coming up with a pro-active solution to end the problem.

Figures that police has been releasing from 2008 to last year, clearly show that the problem is far from over and is actually taking many forms, making it practically impossible for the nation to create the hype around awareness without looking at other approaches like imposing stiff sentences on the perpetrators.

In 2008 police dealt with 1940 cases of domestic violence. In 2009 the figures went up to 3 193 and almost trebled in 2010 when 7 628 were reported. In 2011 police dealt with 20 351 and 10 871 in 2012. The cases continued to go last year after police dealt with 13 600 cases. Some people may argue that the increase is pointing to a growing awareness among people, whilst some school of thought feels that the figures could be higher than this, but there is under-reporting going in especially in the communal areas, where disputes are often arbitrated within the family.

But whatever it is domestic violence continues to increase unabated, as the majority of Zimbabweans battle to contain with economic and social problems on the home front. Most reported cases of domestic violence cases were triggered by allegations of infidelity and economic related problems. Couples often blaming each other for the economic quagmire they find themselves in.

Economic abuse, manifests itself into various forms, and is the resultant cause of domestic violence in many homes, when a woman is beaten up for daring to ask the man why he is not providing for the family. Economic abuse has also resulted in several men being bashed by their wives or being taken to court for failing to maintain their families.

The paradox of economic gender based violence is that it is not only perpetrated at an individual level, but also at a national one, where the large populace of women are living below the poverty datum line, are not employed and survive on vending to sustain themselves and their families.