cycling to serve…Loveness Guveya, Mbire District SASA Champion
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
It’s around 6am and Loveness Guveya wakes up to get her children ready for school.
And after that is done; she also takes time to prepare for a 10km journey which awaits her.
Guveya is one of the dedicated SASA Champions who is part of this National AIDS Council (NAC) programme in partnership with Katswe Sistahood.
The Start, Awareness, Support and Action (SASA) programme designed by a Ugandan-based non-governmental organisation, Raising Voices, has proved its worth in Zimbabwe, as it has helped to reduce violence against women and HIV infections.
The SASA programme has also managed to bring about social change and Guveya is one of those who have dedicated their life to see this succeed.
According to The HIV/AIDS Network; SASA is a methodology and approach designed by the Uganda-based Raising Voices, which works with women and children to explore the gender aspects of power and to address the link between violence against women (VAW) and HIV/AIDS.
“SASA is a Kiswahili word for “now” and also serves as an acronym for the key components of the programme: Start, Awareness, Support and Action.
“The programme seeks to prevent VAW and HIV by changing the attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate power imbalances in relationships between men and women.”
Guveya lives in Mbire District, Ward 3 Kanongo Village, which borders with Mozambique.
Despite the long distance which equally translates to 20km per day when she has SASA meetings, Guveya is not deterred as she believes this is her calling.
“I remember in 2019 when I started the SASA programme and Madzomba was the first centre that we had.
“I would wake up around 6am and prepare for my children, before I do my own preparations because our village is next to Mozambique, we live quite far.
“I had to walk a distance of about 10km in time for the morning meetings and I had to be here by 8am, so it was really difficult because I had to leave the house after preparing for my school going children.
“Sometimes we would finish our SASA meetings around 4pm and I would only get to my house around 7pm.
“And when I got home, sometimes I would find my husband drunk and he would say he had nothing to do with SASA and we would end up fighting.
“But with time, things changed after he got counselling,” narrated Guveya to this reporter during a NAC tour of Mashonaland Central.
She revealed that things got better when they received bicycles as SASA Champions and now she travels to several villages with ease.
“I’m happy that we received bicycles because I can now travel from my house to as far as Mushumbi or Mahuhwe.”
Guveya added that with the support from Katswe Sisterhood when she started the programme in 2019, their life changed for the better.
“We had challenges sustaining our livelihoods, things were really difficult but when we received goats, things became better.
“Now we can look back at the life that we used to live and agree that we are now in a better place.
“With the goats that we have; I now live a better life being self-reliant and I can also send my children to school.
“This SASA programme has also helped us a lot in terms of reducing cases of gender based violence, because we talk to couples and counsel them.
“If we see that the husband is not understanding, as a SASA Champion I should show how this programme is good in our communities and we also have to set good examples because we were taught that change begins with me and that helped me to work well in this community,” she added.
Guveya further revealed that they had received positive support from the traditional leadership in their community as they first have to seek clearance before convening meetings.
Village Heads, Greatman Kapoya and Sina Chawarasarira from Mbire District
Village Head Greatman Kapoya revealed that the SASA programme had really helped in their community as a result of the several awareness campaigns because many people were not versed with health issues.
“Many people were not aware about the need to seek health services like testing but as I’m speaking now, all that has improved.
“We now have improved health outcomes so it is actually pleasing.
“Turning to the issues of gender based violence, it was really a challenge here, because when people got drunk, they would sell household goods, leaving families starving but I’m happy to say that has really reduced here in Mbire,” said Kapoya.
Similar sentiments were also shared by another Village Head, Sina Chawasarira, who said when the SASA programme was implemented in Ward 2, it really helped reduce cases of GBV.
“Through various lessons and awareness campaigns, things really improved here and we are grateful for the impact this programme has given in our community.
“The cases have actually reduced and on issues to do with money; mostly men would misuse it (money) and negate on their responsibilities but with SASA, our community has changed.
“We embraced SASA and we want it to stay; even if it ends, we would be grateful if the SASA Champions can stay and continue with the good work,” added Chawasarira.
Chipo Jongoro, Katswe Sistahood Field Officer, revealed that the programme had four phases and along with NAC, they are implementing it in Mbire District in five Wards 2, 3, 4, 11 and 12.
“In Ward 2 and 3, it is in the Action Phase, which is the last phase of the project where we are looking to say when the project is done, what shall happen, who will remain to see that the project continues.
“So we are working with several government departments, like Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Health and we are also working with traditional leaders, church leaders and youths and women who have influence in the community so that when the project ends, they will continue to talk about GBV and HIV issues.
“Our main aim as SASA is we are looking at women and young women who are facing abuse, linking them to get health services or getting help when they want to get report issues,” said Jongoro.
While many programmes have been hailed in improving health and other social outcomes, kudos to women like Loveness Guveya who continue to dedicate their lives to serve.
