Veep speaks out on GBV

By Ann Zulu 

VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina has called for concerted efforts in the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Zambia.

VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina

And Ms. Wina said Government was concerned with disturbing killings among spouses at a time when families should be united to promote peace and development.

She said the growing trend of GBV was worrying, as it had an effect on socio-economic development of the county.

The Vice President was speaking in an interview with this reporter on the eve of the commemoration of 16 days of activism against GBV in Lusaka today.

“The increase in the number of GBV cases in the country is very worrying because GBV undermines the well-being of the people and socio-economic development of the county. It also violates the human rights of an individual, it disrupts families and as such you cannot build a country on the basis of such violation in the communities. That is why government is very worried,” Ms. Wina said.

She said taking somebody’s life was unacceptable, stressing that there were other amicable ways couples could resolve their differences.

Ms. Wina also called for the interrogation of initiation ceremonies which tend to leave out males, thereby creating imbalance in the values of marriages among spouses.

She noted that this made it difficult for couples to resolve their differences amicably.

“It’s very unfortunate that a woman could go to the extent of killing her husband, which is totally unacceptable. But we should also understand that by the time a wife takes an axe and cuts her husband, she must have come from a very traumatizing background whether in that home or her life,” she said.

Ms. Wina indicated that Government had put in place relevant policies, laws, guidelines and institutions to support holistic management of GBV.

She said despite the steps taken, both Government and stakeholders must put in more efforts to prevent and respond to GBV.

The Vice-President urged the Church, community leaders, NGOs and others to put in more effort and continue being in the forefront of community response to GBV.

“Government is doing a lot and sensitizing communities on GBV is an ongoing process and NGOs have been at the forefront, but more needs to be done by all stakeholders in ensuring that our country is free from GBV,” she said

Ms. Wina also called for unity in the country in fighting GBV for the sake of a peaceful and safer Zambia for the men, women, boys and girls.