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Trust Freddy-Herald Reporter

Residents of Epworth Local Board in Harare Metropolitan yesterday got a shot in the arm after the Japanese Embassy handed over a new two-storey building that will serve as a family support centre for women’s safety at Overspill Market. 

The project, led by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Affairs with support from the Japanese Embassy and Katswe Sistahood, will offer comprehensive empowerment programmes for women, especially survivors of gender-based violence.

Speaking at the handover ceremony yesterday, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Satoshi Tanaka said he hoped that the new centre would allow women and girls to feel safe at the market, as well as providing them with all the necessary services to exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

“They will be able to access a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health and rights services, including counselling, medical, psycho-social and legal support. 

“In addition, the centre will have a police post so that people can report any gender-based violence cases as soon as they occur. It will conduct outreach activities in the community to increase awareness of GBV and change societal norms.”

Mr Tanaka said each year, the centre is expected to provide support to 3 000 women and girls, and reach 20 000 people through its outreach activities. 

The project is also a component of the Government’s initiatives to prevent and address gender-based violence, which are being carried out in collaboration with civil society organisations and the donor community. 

The project was supported through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme, with US$90 909 provided in funding and was implemented by a local NGO, Katswe Sistahood, in collaboration with Government. 

Minister of Women’s Affairs Sithembiso Nyoni said the empowerment centre would be critical in addressing some of the skills gaps that women have and therefore facilitating their entry into the major economic sectors.

“Today we are witnessing an important occasion within the gender-based violence prevention and response programming that has been developed through the partnership between government, civil society organisations and the donor community. 

“The centre that we are opening today will be offering empowerment services in the form of the skills training centre, the exhibition room as well as the arts section. The beauty of this centre is that it also has a one-stop centre which will provide comprehensive GBV services that include health care, psychosocial support, legal aid and police victim friendly services.”

Minister Nyoni thanked the Japanese Embassy for providing funding for the construction of centre and the great work that Katswe Sistahood did in facilitating the construction of this facility.

For Epworth residents, both the elderly and the young, the gesture was more than welcome as many have been facing employment challenges. 

“I want to venture into detergent making because others are already making money from selling detergents,” Ms Tariro Gavaza said. 

Another resident , Ms Paidamoyo Mwene said she was looking forward to be a good hairdresser. 

“One day, I want to have my own saloon and I am very happy that there shall be a team that will be teaching us to do all hair styles.

“However, I am ready to do anything that will allow me to bring food on the table,” she said. 

Katswe Sistahood Director Ms Talent Jumo said similar centres should be established across the country as they are key to the empowerment of women and girls. 

“One of the key drivers of violence is poverty. We feel that once women are economically empowered, they will be able to walk out of abusive relationships and when they are violated they can actually pay for a service in order for them to secure justice and truly speaking we need to have these centres across the country,” she said.

At Overspill Market in Epworth, many women are involved in informal trading and the majority of them have been working without requisite skills.

GBV cases are reportedly prevalent in Epworth, however with the opening of the family support centre, it is anticipated that these incidences will decline.