The call by Gender and Child Development Minister Inonge Wina on the need for accelerated efforts to stop gender-based violence (GBV) in Zambia is timely and should be taken seriously by all stakeholders.
Hardly a day passes without stories in the media being carried that a woman, girl or child has been abused.
The high levels of GBV being recorded in the country have reached alarming levels despite various efforts being put in place by the Government and other stakeholders to curb the vice.
As correctly put by Ms Wina, GBV retards development as it has potential to suppress the women folk who in most cases do not openly come out when abused.
Gender-based violence prevents many people, the vast majority of whom are women, from reaching their full potential.
Violence threatens the lives, health, safety and freedom of women and their families around the world.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), at least 35 per cent of the world’s women have experienced some form of gender-based violence, and many men have been victims as well.
It is important for all Zambians to put their efforts together to curb the escalating levels of GBV because it has negative ramifications on society.
It can affect the health and well-being of survivors with long-lasting physical and psychological effects.
Studies have also shown that GBV is a key driver of the HIV pandemic.
It is therefore important for stakeholders to come up with a number of sensitisation campaigns so that GBV is fought to the end.
The initiative by 30 cyclists taking a 10-day cycling journey from Chililabombwe to Livingstone to raise awareness against gender based violence is therefore a step in the right direction.
Most of the time the women are abused and have not come out to tell their story on this dreadful act.
It is only when people report these cases that perpetrators would be punished and hence the fight against GBV would be propelled.
The courts too should be firm and be able to hand down the stiffest penalties on those found wanting of GBV so that would-be offenders might learn lessons.
The women and girls should be allowed to enjoy their rights and be able to contribute to the development of the country.