GBV cases still stand tall in Chipata

GBV cases still stand tall in Chipata

Chipata, Apr 25/13———Eastern Province has recorded 445 cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in first quarter of 2013.

The records are indicative of high incidences of GBV cases despite concerted efforts by government and stakeholders in curbing the vice.

Sexual and Gender Based Violence Regional Coordinator Dorothy Ndhlovu also told ZANIS in an interview that the province recorded five cases of defilement, one rape and four cases of early marriages.

Mrs Ndhlovu expressed concern that cases of early marriages were increasing, saying the contrast between customary and statutory laws on early marriages were contributing to the scourge.

She stated that there was need to ensure that the two tallied with regard to the issue.

“As it is, the traditionalists believe that when a girl comes of age, it is time for marriage while the statutory law is against that,” she said.

Mrs Ndhlovu said spouse battery and neglect reported 39 and 42 cases respectively.

She noted that child abuse, which recorded five cases in January and five cases in February, reduced in the month of March as only two cases were reported while differences in child custody were at nine in the first quarter of the year.

She also revealed that child neglect cases reduced from 23 in January to 12 in February while March recorded 8 such cases.

Mrs Ndhlovu said three cases of property grabbing were reported in February.

She stated that other cases included emotional abuse which stood at 108, child neglect which recorded 53 cases while physical abuse was at two as at March, 2013.

Others were family neglect, threatening violence, defamation, breach of contract, succession and labour disputes.

Mrs Ndholvu said her organization was engaging youths to provide health care services to their fellow youths on issues such as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies.

She stated that youths were also providing services that would encourage them access health care services as most of them feared to go to clinics whenever they had STIs due to fear of stigma.