The
call
was
made
during
a
community
workshop
in
Cowdray
Park
hosted
by
the
Ministry
of
Women
Affairs
in
partnership
with
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police’s
Victim
Friendly
Unit
(VFU),
UNFPA
and
other
stakeholders,
including
residents’
leaders,
community
health
clubs,
support
groups
and
church
representatives.
The
engagement
comes
ahead
of
the
annual
16
Days
of
Activism
Against
Gender-Based
Violence,
running
from
November
25
to
December
10
under
the
theme, “Unite
to
End
Digital
Violence
Against
All
Women
and
Girls.”
Representatives
from
the
One
Stop
Centre,
which
opened
last
year,
said
the
facility
was
established
to
ensure
survivors
can
access
counselling,
health
services,
police
support
and
legal
assistance
in
one
place.
“Since
opening,
we
have
handled
a
significant
number
of
cases,
with
survivors
receiving
support
and
perpetrators
being
arrested.
We
encourage
anyone
who
needs
help
to
come
forward.
The
centre
is
meant
to
make
the
process
easier
by
eliminating
the
need
to
move
from
office
to
office,”
a
representative
said.
A
VFU
officer
also
urged
residents
to
report
disputes
early,
warning
that
delayed
reporting
often
leads
to
severe
physical
assault
or
death.
“VFU
units
are
available
at
all
police
stations.
It
is
important
to
seek
help
early
before
issues
escalate,”
she
said.
“If
you
notice
constant
quarrelling
or
lack
of
peace
at
home,
you
can
visit
our
offices
for
counselling.”
She
raised
concern
over
cases
of
child
sexual
abuse
concealed
within
families.
“There
are
cases
where
a
child
is
raped
by
a
family
member
but
the
matter
is
covered
up
until
the
child
becomes
ill
or
pregnant.
Such
cases
must
be
reported
promptly
to
protect
the
child
from
pregnancy,
HIV
and
other
infections,”
she
said.
The
officer
also
encouraged
men
to
report
abuse,
saying
many
suffer
in
silence.
“Men
can
also
be
victims
of
verbal,
emotional,
physical
or
sexual
abuse.
Some
hesitate
to
speak
out,
yet
this
silence
contributes
to
rising
suicide
cases
among
men.
Our
officers
are
trained
to
support
everyone,”
she
said.
During
discussions,
residents
highlighted
several
drivers
of
GBV,
including
financial
strain,
dishonesty
and
family
disputes.
One
resident
shared
an
incident
involving
a
man
who
later
discovered
that
his
wife
had
been
secretly
receiving
maintenance
from
her
former
partner
for
a
child
born
before
their
marriage.
“When
he
confronted
her,
she
left
him
and
later
took
him
to
court
for
maintenance
for
the
child
they
had
together,”
the
resident
said.
Another
participant
noted
that
financial
dynamics
can
fuel
conflict.
“Money
plays
a
big
role
in
GBV.
Sometimes
when
women
start
earning
more
than
their
husbands,
they
lose
respect.
The
economy
is
already
tough,
and
when
men
are
blamed
for
failing
to
provide,
some
become
emotionally
overwhelmed
and
may
turn
violent,”
he
said.
Residents
also
cited
inheritance
disputes
as
an
increasingly
common
trigger
of
violence.
“Siblings
often
fight
over
houses
and
property
left
behind
by
parents.
These
conflicts
easily
escalate
into
physical
confrontations
or
worse,”
one
resident
added.