Zambia: Chief Mumena of the Kaonde people of Kalumbila district in North-western province has called for strong pre-marital teachings to couples. He believes that if couples are given appropriate teachings before marriage it will help curb gender based violence (GBV).
Chief Mumena also advised that no one should take part in any form of violence during the 16 days of activism against GBV.
“In these 16 days, no one should take part in any form of violence. There should be strong pre-marital teachings to both males and females prior to marriage against GBV, it will help them a lot in their marriages,” said Chief Mumena.
The Traditional leader was speaking yesterday at his palace in Kalumbila during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV. The event was hosted under the theme: Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.
Chief Mumena disclosed that there is a GBV One-Stop Centre located close to his palace but wants to see these centres in every village.
“We have a GBV centre here, we want a village-led GBV One-Stop centre in every village to stop the GBV scourge,” he said.
He also encouraged continuous GBV sensitisation through the incorporation of Arts to effectively communicate anti-GBV messages.
Provincial Gender Officer Limpo Sishekanu was also present at the lauch event and delivered brief remarks. She said the theme calls for concerted efforts from government and other stakeholders to end violence against women, men, boys and girls in our society.
“According to Zambia Police Service GBV data analysis for 2023 second quarter, there were 9,988 GBV cases reported countrywide compared to 7,588 cases reported in the same period last year,” added Sishekanu.
She further said the mentioned data analysis indicates an increase in GBV incidences by 2,399 translating to 31.6 percent.
“A total of 7,659 females representing 76.7 percent, and 2,330 males representing 23.3 percent were abused during the period under review. The report further indicates that North-Western Province recorded 341 GBV cases translating to 4.6 percent in the second quarter of 2023 with more cases in the province reported from Solwezi and Kalumbila districts,” she said.
Sishekanu said the statistics are evidence that GBV is a public health threat. It is limiting the potential to positively contribute to their personal development and that of the nation at large.
She narrated that the scourge has not spared persons with disabilities as they continue being victims of GBV, mostly defilement, rape, sexual harassment, economic abuse and stigma.
“Support and access to rightful services continue to be a challenge in North-Western Province and the nation at large, compounded by socio-cultural barriers, poverty and power imbalance that survivors experience in our society resulting in most GBV cases not being reported resulting in increased GBV, teenage pregnancies, child marriages and spread of new HIV infections,” she added.
