Residents encouraged to desist from covering up GBV and rape by family members

CASES involving Sexual Gender Based violence among teenagers residing in Umzingwane are being exacerbated by lack of reportage to Victim Friendly Units by parents or guardians under the pretext of protecting families’ reputation or getting money from perpetrators, Esigodini Residents Association Representative Faith Mangena has said.

Mangena was speaking during the screening of two Gender Based Violence short films produced by Magamba Network’s Film Fellowship Fellows. Screened films include Her – A Disintegrated notion by @SkaSebata and Cruel Joke by Cannon Zephien.

The film screening was hosted by Esigodini Residents Association in collaboration with Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) the screening of the short GBV films sought to increase awareness of gender-based violence and its different forms among women in Umzingwane as well as provide a platform for them to engage as a community and proffer possible solutions to address the scourge of GBV.

“Parents are contributing to gender based violence among adolescents as they sometimes tend  to cover up or protect relatives and perpetrators involved impregnating  young women particularly those still at school.”

“Poverty has been a major contributor as well and this can be typified by how the abuse of young adolescents, girls and young women is often unreported as parents or guardians are silenced by money or other beneficiaries,” Mangena said.

The Adolescent Girls and Young Women’s Rights advocate also said parents and guardians should desist from engaging in sexual activities in the presence of adolescent girls or young women as this may affect them emotionally.

“In households where big families share two or three rooms, it is difficult to be discreet during sexual intercourse. However, this has serious repercussions particularly on adolescent girls and young women as it affects them emotionally and leaves them vulnerable to rape,” said Mangena.

A plenary session was conducted following the screening of the two films and some of the key highlights speak to how patriarchal attitudes within diverse communities continue to affect and impact negatively on Women.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Victim-Friendly Unit representative urged citizens to report cases of gender-based violence so that they are able to assist those faced with Gender Based Violence.