. Dr Scott

By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA –
The country recorded 12,988 cases of GBV by September 30, this year, an increase of 3,213 after the unit recorded 9,775 the entire 2013.
The high number of cases comes amid calls by Acting President Guy Scott to institute citizenry arrest of perpetrators of gender-based violence.
Figures show that the Copperbelt Province has recorded the highest cases of GBV in the first and third quarter in 2014 with 1,608 and 1,407 cases, respectively.
However, Lusaka Province had the highest cases recorded in the second quarter with 1,137 cases.
Victim Support Unit (VSU) national coordinator Tresphord Kasale revealed that the most common cases being recorded country wide were child defilement, spouse abuse and child negligence.
Mr Kasale said the total of cases recorded in the first quarter countrywide stood at 4,496 with 4,203 in the second quarter while a total of 4,289 were recorded in third quarter.
Mr Kasale said the Zambia police had continued with sensitisation programmes on GBV in all provinces.
“Yes cases have continued but I also attribute the increase on the phenomenon to the increase awareness that are being conducted countrywide, “he said.
Meanwhile, acting police spokesperson Esther Katongo called on men to report cases of GBV.
“There is a perception and uneasiness in men that makes them not report GBV cases to the police which is quiet unfortunate.
So I urge all the menfolk to come out in the open and report cases because if they do not they will suffer in silence,” she said.
Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) executive director Ms Patricia Ndhlovu described as unfortunate the recent case in which a man on the Copperbelt was poured hot cooking oil by his wife on the face and upper body.
The man who is currently nursing serious wounds in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) had his hand amputated following the incidence.
Zambia last week joined the rest of the world in conducting the 16 days of activism against GBV whose theme this year is “From peace in the home, to peace in the nation: stop GBV, empower women and men”.
The 16 days of activism against GBV is an international campaign commemorated annually from 25 from November to December 10.