by Derick Tsimba
Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has intensified efforts in raising awareness on all forms of Gender Based Violence as the 16 days of activism against gender based violence end today the 10th of December 2018.
In a statement on the 16 days of activism against gender based violence issued by the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Hon Sithembiso G. G Nyoni, said Government was intensifying its efforts to raise awareness on all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
“It is that time of the year again when we take time to intensify our efforts in raising awareness on all forms of GBV. The 16 days of activism against GBV is an international campaign which was originated by the First Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991.
“As we hold 2018 commemorations of this global campaign on ending all forms of GBV, we do this with the following objectives; to raise awareness on GBV as a Human Rights issue, to raise awareness on the negative impacts of GBV particularly the breakdown of the social fabric and disruption of development initiatives, to strengthen local work around gender based violence, to provide a forum for sharing experiences, strategies and best practices in effectively addressing all forms of gender based violence and to demonstrate solidarity with survivors of gender based violence,” the Minister said.
This year’s international commemorations theme is, “End Gender Based Violence in the world of work.” At national level the country is holding the commemorations under the theme, “Creating Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,” said Minister Nyoni.
“...I therefore call upon all critical stakeholders; Government Departments, Civil Society Organisations, Labour Unions, Employer Organisations, Representatives of the informal sector and the employees themselves to join hands as we amplify our voices against sexual harassment in the work place.
“The Government of Zimbabwe remains committed to protecting its citizens from all forms of Gender Based Violence and in particular from sexual harassment. The Constitution of Zimbabwe under Section 65 confers labour rights on every person including the right to safe labour practices and standards. The Constitution further guarantees the right to full and equal dignity.
Government of Zimbabwe through section 245 of the Constitution established the Zimbabwe Gender Commission which is mandated to carry out investigations into all cases of violence relating to gender including sexual harassment,” said the Minister.
The Minister also said that GBV is a hindrance to the achievement of a middle income economy by 2030.
“To all Zimbabweans, I emphatically say that we cannot realise our national vision of a middle income economy by 2030 if we allow GBV to be perpetrated at the workplace, in our families and in the communities we live in. It is our collective responsibility to fight for its total eradication,” she said.
The Harare Post has learnt Government continues to be worried about Political parties such as MDC-Alliance which continue to be perpetrators of violence. During the burial of its late leader Morgan Tsvangirai in February this year, the then MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe was a victim of violence perpetrated by the now MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, supporters regardless of Khupe being a woman, the attackers, mostly men had to be restrained by the police.
