ON March 8, 2014, women from all provinces in Zambia joined their counterparts from across the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day.
This important day on every Zambian calendar was commemorated under the theme; Inspiring change; celebrating God’s favour on 50 years of women excellence and achievements’.
Critical on the day was the continued emphasis that women, young and old, should be protected from all forms of violence against them.
It was further stressed that women should not be prone to any form of violence because their contribution to national development was as vital as that of the men.
A week ago, it was reported that a 25-year-old woman of Lusaka was hospitalised after being brutally beaten by her boyfriend who claimed that she was flirting with other men at a wedding ceremony.
This is not the first incident to be reported in the media as cases of gender-based violence (GBV) have now become an exasperating hearsay day in and day out.
We always hear of how women, young and old, have been hurt or murdered by their boyfriends and husbands on mere allegations without even confirming what exactly transpired.
The best thing that this man should have done was to find an appropriate time to dialogue with his lady friend and resolve the matter amicably.
Zambia is a country that has lived on religious doctrines before and after it was declared a Christian nation on December 29, 1991.
This was now about 23 years ago and because Zambia is a multi-religious country, the need to protect women from all forms of violence can be stressed from more manuscripts than one.
The Christian Bible says in the book of 1 Peter 3:7 that: “Likewise, husbands live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
The book of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things”.
And Allah says in part of the Islam Quran book of al-Nisaa 4:34: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend to support them from their means”.
Not only is it from a biblical point of view, but it is also against the cultural norms of the Zambian society to hit a woman! It is just not a right thing to do for a man of five senses.
First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba should be commended for taking the lead in the crusade against GBV; she has definitely taken the “mother of the nation” role in this fight.
Organisations like the Non Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Women for Change, Zambia Women’s Lobby, among others, have made their voice against GBV heard.
It is therefore an infamy that some men in today’s Zambian society have closed the ears to these calls and gone ahead to physically fight their women, whom God created to be helpers.
In the case under discussion for instance; the man hit a woman who he is not even married to but only has a child with.
He is actually said to be married to another woman who has clearly been abandoned by him.
One wonders what even prompted this relationship because clearly, it was not love.
The practice of GBV is not right at all and biblical doctrine, and as well as the supreme law of the land – the constitution, should guard against such malevolent acts.
Women as our mothers ought to be treated with the respect that they deserve and at no time should be ill-treated for any offence attributed to them.
One can only hope that laws prosecuting perpetrators of GBV are stiffened so that women are safeguarded.
In August 2013, the cabinet of Saudi Arabia approved a law making domestic violence a criminal offence for the first time.
The law calls for a punishment of up to one year imprisonment and a fine of up to US$13,000, with maximum punishments being doubled for repeat offenders.
The new laws were welcomed by Saudi women’s rights activists, although some expressed concerns that the law could not be implemented successfully without new training for the judiciary.
Saudi Arabia is a developing country just like Zambia and the law here must ensure that the perpetrators of domestic violence are not spared, more-so if they are known and guilty of the offence.
Contribute to this forum by calling or texting to 0964317110/ 0973182006 or email jameskunda91@gmail.com.