By Nthokozo Gudu
The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) has called for collaborative efforts to eliminate and amplify voices of victims and survivors of violence against women and girls.
Addressing student journalists at the Christian College of Southern Africa (CCOSA) recently, UNIC information officer Tafadzwa Mwale called on communities to complement efforts by independent organisations.
“There is the radical need of a collective effort from all members of society in fighting against all forms of violence against women and girls,regardless of the prevalent autonomous feminist movements.
”The 16 days of activism against women and girls is to call for action ,promote advocacy,amplifying voices of victims and survivors,also urging all victims to report any form of abuse ,violence or harassment,” Mwale said
She raised alarm over early child marriages saying it exposes young girls to abuse .
A nine-year-old girl from Tsholotsho recently became the youngest mother in the country after giving birth to a baby girl at the United Bulawayo Hospitals through caesarean section (C-section).
Barely days before people could make sense of this graphic case of sexual perversion, the nation woke up to the news that police had arrested two 17-year-old boys for impregnating a nine-year-old girl in Bindura.
In October, a 15-year-old girl from Norton died while giving birth at a church shrine in Bikita.
The tragedy is reminiscent of the case of 14-year-old Anna Machaya, who died while giving birth in Marange in July last year. This is just a tip of the iceberg.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has expressed concern over the incidents which have become pervasive in towns and cities.
