Category: Gender Matrix

Candlelight Ceremony Brings 16 Days of Activism to a Close as WCoZ, Hivos Reflect on Gender Justice

Healthtimes

By Patricia Mashiri The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and Hivos have concluded the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with a candlelight ceremony that brought together persons with disabilities and representatives from various organisations working with vulnerable groups. Aligned with this year’s theme, “Unite to end digital violence against all women and girls,” the workshop aimed to highlight the challenges women with disabilities face online and explore ways of addressing and preventing digital abuse. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, WCoZ Programmes Manager Rotina Mafume-Musara said the…

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AI-Generated Deepfakes and Ghost Accounts Fuel Tech Based Gender Based Violence in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is recording a sharp rise in technology driven gender based violence as new digital tools, including artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and anonymous social media accounts, make it increasingly difficult to trace perpetrators. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Cybersecurity and Forensics Laboratory has warned that technology-facilitated GBV is now one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse targeting women and girls across the country. Global evidence shows that two in three women have experienced technology-facilitated violence and 85 percent of women online have witnessed another woman being abused. In…

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Women’s Groups Demand Independent Oversight as Digital Violence Surges

Healthtimes

By Health Times Correspondent Women’s rights groups have urged the government to establish independent commissions to monitor and evaluate the implementation of gender policies amid a rise in gender-based violence (GBV) cases. The country recently joined the global campaign for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which emphasizes preventing violence against women and girls. The theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism is “Unite to End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.” The campaign highlights the growing threat of online abuse and harassment, calling for collective…

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Zimbabwe Gender Commission launches Inquiry Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) on Thursday launched a national inquiry into sexual harassment in institutions of higher and tertiary education, marking the start of a long-delayed process at Harare Polytechnic College. The Ministry of Women Affairs tasked ZGC with the inquiry in 2020, but the official launch comes five years later. The exercise seeks to establish the extent of the problem in Zimbabwe’s colleges and universities, how institutions are responding to cases, and whether existing policies adequately protect students and staff. Speaking at the launch, ZGC…

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Women Miners Demand Inclusion in New Mines and Minerals Bill

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Women in artisanal mining have called for their voices to be included in Zimbabwe’s new Mines and Minerals Act, currently at the bill stage, arguing that the legislation must reflect the lived realities of women miners who remain sidelined in the sector. Speaking at the Women in Mining Conference in Harare, held under the theme “Empowering Women in Artisanal Mining: Advancing Gender Equity, Economic Justice, and Environmental Sustainability,” women miners said exclusion from decision-making structures has left them vulnerable to exploitation and inequality. WCoZ National Coordinating Committee…

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Women Frustrated by Delays in Identifying Rapist of Grade 7 Pupil at Rank

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Women’s organisations have expressed frustration over the failure to identify and bring to justice the tout reportedly responsible for raping a minor in a parked commuter omnibus at the Rezende bus rank. To voice their concerns, members of the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) converged on Friday at a Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Outreach Activity at the Ruzende Parkade Rank. The event, attended by women of all ages, was aimed at showing solidarity with the affected child and other women and girls who have suffered abuse at…

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Zimbabwe’s Mobile One-Stop Centres Reveal Growing Cases of Women Abusing Men

Michael Gwarisa
A counselor speaks with a man at a Zimbabwe mobile one-stop centre for gender-based violence survivors, highlighting the growing number of men reporting abuse by women.

By Michael Gwarisa in Mutoko Mobile One-Stop Centres (MOSCs), designed to support survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), are revealing a lesser-known reality in Zimbabwe: men being physically and verbally abused by their female partners. These centres provide a safe space for men and women alike to report abuse and access critical services, challenging traditional perceptions that GBV affects only women. “My wife cut me with a knife,” said 51-year-old Shadreck Madziwa* from Mutoko, Mashonaland Central. “We had an argument, and she grabbed a knife and stabbed me. She joined hands…

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WCoZ Launches Indigenous Women Forum to Amplify Voices and Shape Policy

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) has officially launched the Indigenous Women’s Forum, a landmark platform that seeks to empower indigenous women and girls across Zimbabwe by addressing their unique challenges and fostering leadership, advocacy and inclusion. The forum was unveiled at a vibrant gathering attended by women from various indigenous communities, traditional leaders and civil society actors. It aims to create a safe, inclusive environment for indigenous women to share experiences, shape policy and drive change at both national and global levels. WCoZ National Coordinating Committee…

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From Perpetrator to Advocate: A Bindura Man’s Journey to Break the Cycle of Gender-Based Violence

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere recently in Kadoma An often-overlooked consequence of gender-based violence (GBV), is the bitter aftertaste it leaves on future generations—a legacy stained by silence, shame, and isolation. Chadwick Mangwiro* (not his real name), a man rooted in African family values, takes pride in his totem, Shumba—a name held dear by his father, relatives, and community. Yet behind this proud identity lies a painful past. His father, once a perpetrator of GBV, eventually turned a corner, committing himself to love and support his wife. Following in those reformed footsteps,…

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Obstetric Violence: A sinister form of GBV against pregnant children

Healthtimes

By Chipo Tsitsi Mlambo On November 26, 2024, as I prepared to address the issue of obstetric violence against pregnant children, a significant case emerged. Sixteen-year-old Tariro* (not her real name) went into labor and arrived at the home of one of our Purple Door Advocates, who promptly escorted her to the local clinic. A few hours later, I received a call from our community advocate informing me that Tariro had been advised her baby was too large for a normal delivery and required a C-section at the hospital. To…

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