Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) legal officer Mxoliswa Mthunzi has raised concerns over the evolving nature of gender-based violence (GBV) cases in Bulawayo, noting a shift from traditional domestic violence incidents to disputes over property and inheritance.
“Previously, domestic violence cases mainly involved couples. But now, we are seeing more cases where relatives are using threats and violence over property disputes,” Mthunzi said during a roundtable discussion on GBV response held in Bulawayo last Friday.
Mthunzi highlighted that such cases are not confined to Bulawayo alone but are increasingly reported in rural districts like Esigodini. He also pointed out that victims seeking protection orders and legal representation often face delays in the justice system, particularly in sexual violence cases.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” he stressed, calling for greater efficiency in handling these matters.
Stigma remains a major barrier to reporting GBV, especially for male survivors. However, Mthunzi noted a slight increase in cases where men are seeking legal assistance for abuse.
“Men usually don’t report abuse, fearing judgment, but we are now seeing more coming forward, particularly older men,” he said.
The discussion, which was supported by Emthonjeni Women’s Forum, also featured contributions from government officials. District Development Officer Clayton Mharadzano underscored the need for organisations handling sensitive cases to improve coordination with authorities before sharing information publicly.
He relayed concerns from the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development about information being released to the media without prior government notification.
“The concern from the Permanent Secretary’s Office is that information is shared without their awareness. We are not pointing fingers, but if the information could impact the province, relevant authorities should be informed,” Mharadzano said.
He referenced a directive from President Emmerson Mnangagwa, instructing provincial ministers to stay informed about key developments.
“When organisations handle sensitive cases and share information publicly, the most senior coordinating office, the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), is often unaware,” he explained.
Mharadzano clarified the distinction between the President’s Department and the OPC to avoid confusion.
“The President’s Department is the security side, while the OPC is the civil side. Ministries and departments report to the OPC,” he noted.
He urged organisations to provide brief updates to government offices, even just a paragraph, to ensure coordination.
“Our plea to you is that when dealing with sensitive information, just whisper to us, even in writing, so we can pass it on to the Permanent Secretary’s Office,” he said.
Mharadzano also assured civil society organisations that the government does not need to be present at every programme but should at least be aware of such initiatives.
“Sometimes organisations are running the race alone when we could create a resource-sharing platform. That is our view,” he said.
Bulawayo City Council’s Principal Gender, Safety, and Health Officer, Audrey Manyemwe, spoke about the fragmentation in GBV response efforts, which often leads to gaps in service delivery.
“A platform like this discussion helps us know which organisation to reach out to for specific issues,” Manyemwe said.
She also highlighted the challenges faced by GBV survivors in peri-urban areas such as Robert Sinyoka, Cabatsha, and Ngozi Mine due to poor infrastructure and communication networks. Data collection was another issue, with critical information often being gathered but not fully utilised.
“We are sitting on a minefield of data that we don’t use. If consolidated properly, this data could inform evidence-based planning and policy-making,” she said.
Manyemwe further noted that socialisation plays a critical role in shaping attitudes toward GBV.
“In many cases, the abuser is a male relative, but because he is the breadwinner, the family does not report the abuse. Years later, boys exhibit trauma-related behaviour, but no one connects it to past abuse,” she explained.
Funding constraints were also raised, with Treasury allocating limited resources to the gender ministry, citing the availability of donor support.
Zimbabwe Gender Commission Regional Coordinator Dalubuhle Sibanda stressed that GBV response efforts should align with the National Development Strategy (NDS) and Agenda 2030 goals on governance and social justice.
Sibanda expressed concerns about corruption in the justice system.
“There is always an outcry that GBV cases are compromised through bribery,” he said. “People no longer trust the system, not because the laws are inadequate, but because of how they are implemented.”
He also pointed out that many government departments lack awareness of sexual harassment policies, despite the Public Service Commission having a framework in place.
“We still have a lot of work to do in educating stakeholders on what sexual harassment is,” he admitted.
Musasa Regional Manager Angeline Munangwa shared best practices in handling GBV cases and called for sustainable interventions.
“One of our strengths has been coordinating efforts at the community level,” she said.
She explained that Musasa trains community members to provide psychological first aid and refer cases to relevant authorities, as relying on external funding is not sustainable in the long run.
“We need to empower communities to handle these issues on their own,” Munangwa said, recalling an incident where the abrupt suspension of foreign aid caused panic among civil society organisations.
“That experience showed us the importance of sustainability. We must prepare communities to be self-sufficient in addressing GBV issues,” she concluded.