REFLECTION on gender-based violence (GBV) in the year 2013 clearly shows that the vice reached alarming levels.
The disclosure by the Inspector General (IG) of Police Stella Libongani during the on the “ARENA” programme on ZNBC that more than 10,000 cases of GBV had been recorded by September 2013 truly confirmed that the vice had reached alarming levels.
Evidently, the Zambia Police Service in the year 2013 grappled with fighting GBV, the fact that was confirmed by the Inspector General of Police.
GBV cases recorded were across gender, though most admittedly more were against women and girls.
However, GBV cases against men also made headlines in 2013, and includes the battering of a Livingstone man by his wife.
The man – for those that saw him on ZNBC Television – had his neck “ploughed” through with his wife’s nails, an action which should at no time been entertained in society.
Indeed, the move by the police to put the woman behind bars after the incident was commendable as it is one way of ensuring that the vice is rooted out of society.
On the other hand, GBV cases against women that made headlines included a report on MUVI Television where a Lusaka man burnt his wife with hot water after a marital dispute.
Another woman was in February last year axed to death by her husband after a domestic dispute.
In fact, a day hardly passed in 2013 without a report of a woman killed by her husband, a woman being raped or child defiled, actions which in fact have psychological effects on the victims.
In agreement with the Zambia Police, the Government admitted that GBV cases in 2013 increased.
Gender Minister Inonge Wina said GBV cases in 2013 had increased and that there was need to employ new tactics to fight the vice.
New tactics in 2014 should, therefore, seriously be considered.
Initiatives indeed as suggested by the minister of Gender need to be employed, at all costs by all stakeholders.
Some Suggestions such as including the “topic of gender based violence” in the school curriculum in order to build a more civilized society should, therefore, seriously be considered.
Agreeably, serious involvement of traditional leaders and the Church in the fight against GBV should also without doubt be another avenue in tackling GBV.
This is not to say that the traditional leaders and the Church have not been involved in the fight against GBV, but with the alarming statistics in 2013, new tactics need to be employed.
In fact, the Government, gender specialists and all stakeholders in the fight against GBV need to put their heads together in drawing up new tactics to root out the vice.
On the other hand, the call by the First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba for stakeholders to get to the root cause of GBV to eradicate the vice should also be taken seriously, suffice to say that solving a problem with understanding of root causes yield positive results.
It has been argued that some of the causes of GBV were deeply rooted in the way society was set up, therefore, society in general and the community should play a role in fighting GBV.
On the other hand, the media should play a pivotal role in highlighting GBV issues while civil society organisations must sensitise and educate the community on the dangers of GBV.
Individual persons should also ensure that they report GBV cases so that perpetrators of violence are brought to book.
Victims must ensure that perpetrators are punished so that they do not repeat the offences.
It is only right to conclude, therefore, that the fight against GBV in Zambia needs concerted efforts and holistic approaches by all if the fight is to be won.
With all stakeholders working together with new tactics, GBV can be contained in 2014.
On the other hand, focusing on root causes of GBV with mapping out strategies on how to root them out should also be on cards.
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