USAIDS pledges US$16 million to fight GBV

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged US $16 million to help fight gender based violence (GBV) cases in Zambia.

Zambia Mission Director Susan Brems expressed concern over the increase in the number of GBV case despite the country being an oasis of peace at international level. Dr. Brems said it was unfortunate that girls and women including some men have experienced physical violence.

He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Chibombo district yesterday on the side-lines of the on-going 16 days of GBV activism whose theme is “from peace in the home, to peace in the nation: Stop GBV, empower women and men”.

She disclosed that Zambia will get an addition U$S10 million from the United Kingdom Agency for International Development (UKAID) to stop GBV cases from escalating in the country.

She said this would be achieved through concerted efforts by her institution working closely with the Ministry of Gender and Child Development, Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health and the department of Victim Support Unit of the Zambia Police.

And a Director in the Ministry of Gender and Child Development Pumulo Mundale said government has lined up various activities during the commemoration the 16 days of activism against GBV.

Ms. Mundale has since urged the Zambian people to take advantage of the anti-gender-based violence Act number one of 2011 which empowers them to take interest whenever GBV crimes manifest themselves in communities.