Gender-Based Violence in Zimbabwe: A Critical Analysis of Institutional Responses

Abstract

This study sought to analyse institutional responses to gender-based violence (GBV) in the health, justice (police) and education sectors in Zimbabwe against the background of limited research, particularly in developing countries, on the role of multisectoral institutions in addressing GBV. Guided by the Heise’s ecological model the study aimed to do the following:  Identify the risk factors of GBV in Zimbabwe;  Review institutional responses to GBV in the three sectors, with particular focus on laws and policies, institutional reforms and community mobilisation efforts;  Explore service providers’ and other key stakeholders’ perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of institutional responses aimed at addressing GBV; and  Propose a model for a multisectoral response to GBV in Zimbabwe and other similar Global South contexts. The mixed methods approach was adopted and specifically the sequential explanatory approach where a quantitative component was followed by a qualitative phase was undertaken. Secondary quantitative data from the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey was used to attain the first specific objective, and qualitative data collected in Mt Darwin and Shamva districts was used to achieve the second and third objectives. The data was obtained through key informant interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders in the three sectors as well as through in-depth interviews with GBV survivors. The results from the quantitative and qualitative components were triangulated and informed the overall conclusion of the study and the last specific objective. The study results show that women and girls in Zimbabwe continue to be exposed to GBV (especially physical, emotional and sexual violence) despite the country having enacted legislation and policies to curb this type of violence. The findings of this research strengthen the established point that the mere existence of legislation does not protect women and girls from GBV. The study established that there is a gap between legislation/policy availability and implementation because of the mediating effects of cultural and religious norms as well as lack of resources. Risk factors for experiencing GBV are alcohol abuse by partner, low levels of education for the survivor, cultural norms, normative use of violence, use of mobile devices and marital status. Institutional response by the three sectors is largely reactive, lack a clearly defined long-term programme to curb GBV and is characterised by a weak coordination between the three sectors. Premised on the biomedical approach, the health sector offers medical treatment to GBV survivors while the police treat GBV as a crime. The education sector take disciplinary measures to those found guilty of perpetrating GBV. These reactive measures do not address the underlying causes of GBV, chief of which are gender discriminatory norms and an unequal balance of power between girls and women and boys and men. The results show that responses to GBV by the three sectors is a function of institutional capacity (availability of resources), officers’ capacity (level of training in GBV issues) and social context (cultural and religious norms that condone violence). The study makes a number of recommendations to strengthen institutional responses by the three sectors, empower women and improve the implementation of existing laws and policies. These include:  Strengthen the operations of the police stations, schools and primary health care centres through in-service training of personnel;  Ensure that at least one member of the victim-friendly unit is at the front office of any police station since all visitors, including GBV victims, report to this office before being directed to specific offices;  Move from a biomedical approach to a gender sensitive approach to health in the health sector and include GBV issues in public health concerns like HIV/AIDS, sexual, reproductive and mental health; and  In the educational sector, build more classrooms and provide furniture to minimise seating arrangements that expose girls to sexual harassment. Schools must work with communities to warrant the safety of children on their way to and from school. In addition, the study proposes a three sector model (health, police and education) based on the common understanding of GBV, the use of a common module in the pre- and in-service training and a thrust to prevent GBV before it happens by using community-based strategies and violence prevention committees in schools and primary health centres.