The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says women play a critical role in sustainable
development of their communities but Gender Based Violence (GBV) undermines
opportunities for many women and denies them the ability to fully utilise their basic human
rights.In Zimbabwe, reports indicate that about one in three women aged 15 to 49 have experienced
physical violence while one to four women have experienced sexual violence since the age of
15.In an effort to reduce GBV, UNFPA is collaborating with the Ministry of Women Affairs,
Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Musasa Project and other Non-
Governmental Organisations, towards increasing availability and utilisation of GBV services
by survivors of violence.The main thrust of the programme is increasing awareness of gender responsive laws and
services, the provision of health care, psychosocial support and legal aid to survivors of
GBV, mobilising men and young people to support gender equality, GBV prevention through
community mobilisation, and supporting GBV referral and coordination mechanisms at
district and community level.UNFPA has implemented GBV risk mitigation initiatives and response to humanitarian crises such as provision of psychosocial support to vulnerable women and girls through safe spaces.
This came up on a tour held at Chikandakubi and Gondwa villages in Jambezi under Chief
Shana.World Vision Behaviour Change District Officer Zenzo Dube said Hwange as a district has
been identified as a beneficiary to the programme to map the district and come up with GBV
hotspot areas.
Hwange has been a closed community where issues of GBV are dealt with internally as a
family and more often than not the family dynamics were taking precedence over the welfare
of the survivors “We were relying on stakeholders like Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) ZRP, health social
services and other organisations that work with GBV to identify wards were GBV is more
prevalent,” said Dube. “The locations we chose are basically considered to be GBV hotspots. Our aim is to establish
mitigations but before we did that we needed to go on to the ground and carry out co-
creation process.
“The purpose of community meetings were to establish the root cause of the problem. We
then discovered that in most of the areas the causes or forms of GBV are around issues of the
economy and imbalances between men and women.”
Dube said the prevailing social systems give men more economic power than women.
“Therefore in some instances when women ask for something from their male counterparts, it
ends up causing gender based violence in the households,” he said.
He explained that the safe spaces are providing a platform were women facing similar
problems meet and offer each other psycho-social support and they deliberate on how they
can mitigate GBV among themselves using their own structures.
“Also we avail to them GBV referral pathway so that they refer each other for service
acquisitions,” he said.
Dube said there are 10 places where these safe spaces are located within the Jambezi area.
These include Milonga, Jambezi, Chikandakubi, Gondwa, Kanywambizi, Jabula, Vulindlela,
Ndlovu, Mbizha and Sacred Heart Mission.
Charity Muleya is one of the women chosen to be a mentor at Chikandakubi village in
Jambezi.“I was chosen by the villagers to be trainer about GBV and later engaged village heads
concerning what I have learnt.“When we gathered other women, to my surprise, many accepted the lessons because they
were facing a lot of GBV in their homes. After a week we formed a group of safe space and
started our lessons.
“Later the World Vision came and donated 300 broiler chicks with full feed from starter to
finisher. We are now selling the second batch of broiler chickens. We have opened a second
safe space group in our area we want all women to work and get busy and lessen GBV
harassments,” said Muleya the mentor.
Another survivor from Gondwa who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the abuse
she faced in her home which emanated from money issues.
She said the safe space project has transformed her household for the better.
“My home has changed due to safe space lessons. I had no peace in my home as I was always
bullied by my husband, each and every time I asked for money for household basics.
“My children were always expelled from school due to non-payment of schools fees. I then
heard and joined safe space lessons and also my husband was invited by the mentors and
taught on how to live in peace with a family,” she said.
Councilor Gregory Droppa of Ward 6 in Milonga applauded the transformative factors of the
project which is being accepted in the ward.
“These are the developments we want in our village for women to help their husbands in
fending for their families. In the initial stages of the project, there was resistance from some
men who thought the clubs initiated their wives into prostitution.
“However, gradually men changed their views on the safe space clubs. They realised that
these projects were good to them as well. I am planning to call at least 60 men so that the
World Vision will teach us on how to do men projects,” said the councillor.
