By JULIUS PHIRI –

GOVERNMENT has said 20 per cent of Zambian women have experienced sexual violence adding that 42 per cent were either attacked by their husbands or partners.
Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone said during the launch of ‘Good Husband Campaign’ held at golf course in Chipata yesterday that homes which were supposed to be the safest havens for children had unfortunately turned out to be danger zones due to the bad husbands.
Mr Sichone said in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Permanent Secretary Zechariah Luhanga that the issue of violence against women and children was a worldwide phenomenon which knows no race, economic or social status.
“It has left many women and children with severe physical and mental injuries or in the worst scenario it has caused the death of many women and children,” he said.
The minister, however, said the ‘Good Husband Campaign’ would strive to bring about change among men and boys by promoting behaviors, attitudes and practices that would embrace peace, care, support and love for the families especially women folk.
Mr Sichone said family members such as wives, mothers, aunties, sisters, daughters, nieces and children in general should be protected from emotionally, economically, physically, sexually and cultural abuse.
He said such abuses had negative impact on victims, thereby, hindering their ability to fully realise their social and economic potential so as to contribute to national development.
The minister said it was important for all men to refrain from violence but care and support women in all spheres of life.
He said it was the duty of men to spearhead and promote sustainable human development with the family and society as a whole.
He said the provincial administration was committed to partnering with organisations such as Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) to promote the active participation of men in the fight against gender based violence (GBVs) through a men’s network called good husband campaign.
Speaking earlier, YWCA national vice-president Patricia Nyirenda said her organisation was concerned with the high levels of GBV cases in Zambia.
She said stories of women being battered, raped or economically abused including stories of children being defiled were currently making screaming headlines on a daily basis in both print and electronic media.