ZGC Chairperson Dr Leslie Ncube (right) and Chief Executive Officer Virginia Muwanigwa
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Everyone has a role to play in ending intimate partner violence (IPV), supporting survivors and building peaceful homes and safe communities.
The call was made by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) Chairperson Dr Leslie Ncube, who added that ending violence should not be left to Government, the Police, civil society organisations or survivors alone, but requires collective efforts from families, communities, religious and traditional leaders, workplaces and individuals.
Speaking during the launch of a 90-day National Campaign Against Intimate Partner Violence today (Friday, October 2), which runs from October to December 2026, Dr Ncube said everyone had a responsibility to prevent violence and promote respectful relationships.
He said the Commission was concerned by increasing reports of physical, sexual and emotional violence within intimate relationships, with some cases escalating to loss of life.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, at least 13 838 cases of sexual offences and aggravated domestic violence were recorded across the country in 2024.
The Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2023–2024 also shows that 27 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, while nine percent have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
Dr Ncube said many cases remained unreported due to fear, stigma, economic dependence, shame, threats and limited access to support services.
“A home should be a place of safety, dignity, love and respect, not a place of fear,” said Dr Ncube.
He said intimate partner violence was not merely a private family matter, but a human rights, gender equality, social and development concern that required a coordinated national response.
The campaign seeks to move beyond responding to violence after it occurs by promoting prevention, early identification of warning signs, healthy relationships, peaceful conflict resolution, reporting and survivor support.
It will focus on public awareness, Government and institutional engagement, involving men and boys in prevention, working with religious and traditional leaders to promote peaceful homes, and encouraging workplaces to provide support for employees affected by IPV.
Dr Ncube said while women and girls continued to bear a disproportionate burden of gender-based violence, men and boys could also be affected and should be able to access protection, justice and support without discrimination.
He urged men and boys to reject violence and promote respectful relationships, while calling on parents to teach children self-respect, open communication and peaceful ways of resolving conflicts.
Religious and traditional leaders were also urged to challenge harmful cultural norms and speak openly against violence, while communities were encouraged to report cases and not ignore warning signs.
He further called on the media to report cases responsibly and ethically, while Government institutions, employers, civil society and development partners were urged to strengthen prevention, protection and referral services.
The campaign is part of efforts to support the High-Level Political Compact to End Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices in Zimbabwe, launched in 2021 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which seeks to eradicate sexual violence, child marriage and intimate partner violence by 2030.
Dr Ncube said building peaceful homes would help protect children, strengthen families and create safer communities.
“We must recognise the warning signs early. We must speak up when violence occurs. We must support survivors regardless of their gender. We must challenge harmful norms and promote mutually respectful relationships,” added Dr Ncube.
He said violence was preventable and called on Zimbabweans from all walks of life to join the campaign and contribute towards creating peaceful homes and safer communities.
