Hazel Marimbiza
Nicole Ndlovu** just started talking about what she was going through. She just opened up. Then she got psychological support.
Ndlovu had suffered several months of being beaten up by her husband. “It was like a nightmare that came true. I was afraid to speak up because of embarrassment. I kept thinking, what people would think, say and feel about me,” she narrated.
Eventually, the wounds became too much to put up with. She couldn’t sleep at night and she became sick. Near her breaking point and in need of counselling, Ndlovu opened up to colleagues about what she was going through. “That was the first step in my healing,” she shared, although the journey proved to be lengthy and complex.
“They advised me to go seek help at Musasa. At the centre I managed to be empowered because the counsellors listened to my story without judging me. The home provided me with protection and information to build my confidence and other skills so as to increase my capacity to regain control of my life, free from violence,” said Ndlovu.
For each woman survivor of violence, healing from trauma is a unique journey, but it always begins with sharing.
While no two women’s stories of healing from violence are the same, access to adequate mental care and support is essential for all survivors. Reaching out, speaking up, and shedding light on their trauma gives women a chance to amend their stories. With support comes individual and combined power: the power to talk, to shout, and to stand against all odds.
Yes, these women could have once been victims. Yes, they survived violence. But they don’t want to continue being labelled as survivors; instead, they want to be seen as victorious.
On Monday, 25 November, the world will begin observing the 16 Days to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV), an annual campaign. As part of the observance, several women rights organisations will be raising awareness on the evils associated with GBV.
The 16 Days are crucial but one cannot overlook the little and big efforts being done by women’s organisations to try and end GBV.
One of those organisations is Musasa, which works with partners, including governments, other women’s organisations and youth groups, to end gender-based violence and the impunity that perpetuates it.
Speaking in Womankind Worldwide’s video, Musasa’s Project Director, Ms Netty Musanhu said our society is still fighting GBV because both women and men have been socialised to accept it.
“Women and men have been socialised to normalise violence. It’s sad to note that some women still say that if a man does not slap her it means he doesn’t love her. But the thing is violence kills the person. If a woman has gone through a lifetime of violence then she has to go through a lifetime of healing”, said Musanhu.
According to the United Nations Population Fund 2017, women play a critical role in sustainable development. When they are educated and healthy, their families, communities and countries benefit. Yet, gender-based violence undermines opportunities for women and denies them the ability to fully utilise their basic human rights.
That is why Musasa now has shelters where women are provided with on-going counselling and are able to access other services such as clinics and hospitals, ante-natal care, police and courts. Survivors are provided with life-skills trainings to equip them with income generating skills as well as trainings in self-esteem and confidence building.
“I am the first person that the women talk to when they come to the centre,” said one staff member.
“Fulfilling this important task means I have to respond to a woman’s emotional and mental needs in a non-judgemental way that soothes and respects the woman’s autonomy”.
Counselling sessions at shelters are crucial as research indicates that lots of women continue being abused in Zimbabwe.
Global Database on violence against women states that in Zimbabwe about 1 in 3 women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and about 1 in 4 women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.
These alarming figures on violence against women in Zimbabwe have triggered the international community to help end gender-based violence against women in Zimbabwe because violence against women and girls is the most pervasive human rights abuse in the world, affecting every country and community.
Unicef now has a Spotlight Initiative in Zimbabwe which aims to build on global efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on gender equality as well as health and well-being of women.
In an article published by Unicef in 2019, UN Resident Coordinator Bishow Parajuli said the initiative tackles head-on sexual gender-based violence by paving the way for women and girls to have a voice, choice and control over their lives.
