CB records over 700 cases of gender violence in 6 months

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) has observed that cases of gender based violence and defilement have continued to rise on the Copperbelt province.

YWCA Regional Coordinator, Julita Mutale, said from January to June this year, her office recorded 768 cases of gender violence, 167 cases of defilement and 15 cases of incest.

Speaking at the Copperbelt tribunal held in Kitwe today, Mrs. Mutale attributed the increase to poor communication, compounded by the advent of cell phones, myths and misconceptions on social issues and poverty.

She said there had been a number of challenges in responding to gender based violence, some of which are the withdrawal of cases, long court processes and failure to report gender based violence to relevant authorities.

She called for the provision of strict legal framework, fast track of gender based violence cases in courts and scaling up facilities for recuperation and therapy.

And Kitwe Chief Resident Magistrate, Charles Zulu, said women rights have continued to be violated despite efforts made through various international and regional protocols.

He said women continued to be marginalised in terms of accessing productive resources such as land.

And Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe, says while government has taken a firm stand on the protection of the rights of all, the evidence indicates that some violations of the rights of women and children have continued to occur in the country.

Speaking during the commemoration of sixteen days of activism against gender violence at Civic Centre in Livingstone today in a speech read for him by Southern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Aaron Zulu, Mr Munkombwe said concerns have been raised by various stakeholders that the rights of women have not been adequately addressed.

Mr Munkombwe said some of the violations that have continued to occur included rape, defilement, wife battering and property grabbing.

Mr Munkombwe, however, said government would not allow such a situation to go on and noted that it was for that reason that the commemoration of the 16 days of activism against gender violence continued to be of significance to government.

The minister also observed that he was encouraged by the increased recognition of women’s and girl’s rights among the traditional leadership and the traditional leadership’s involvement in the fight for human rights as they played a critical role at community level.

He said the achievement of human rights for all could not be realistic without the protection of the rights for women.

Speaking earlier, NGOCC representative Jean Mweene said the mushrooming shebeens in most townships in Livingstone had contributed to gender violence.

Mrs Mweene said women were also still being discriminated even at places of work through sexual violence and intimidation.

She also appealed to government not to relent in seeking peace for Zimbabwe saying the situation in that country had brought untold misery especially to the women folk.

And 11 year old Mwamba Mulenga said in a moving speech she delivered on behalf of the Girl-child in relation to gender based violence that gender rights could not be inclusive if women’s rights were not recognised.

She said the concern to the girl child was that cases of defilement that were reported were not dealt with accordingly.

Mwamba expressed regret that some parents tend to withdraw the cases at the expense of the abused child.

She also noted that HIV testing be made mandatory for those people who defile yyoung children.

ZANIS/ENDS/FM/SJK