Home General Poverty fuelling GBV

Poverty fuelling GBV

by BustopTV

By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu

Masvingo – The people of ward 17 of Matadzembwa in Mapakomhere said that Gender Based Violence is being triggered poverty in the rural in their communities

When poverty is on the rise, cases of GBV are on the rise too. Economic hardships have been a catalyst in most of the cases that of GBV that are being reported.

An interview with the people of Mapakomhereshowed various causes of GBV were highlighted chief among them being poverty. 

Varaidzo Gapare a member in the community said that lack of adequate food supply can be attributed to trigger violent behavior amongst family members.

The problem of GBV is being caused by poverty in the homes; lack of adequate food to put on the table to sustain families is a major cause. If couples do not get the required basic needs I tell you they will always fight as they will be blaming each other for their failures. Weas women once we are even given a slap wetend to pacify ourselves which is not what we should do. If women empower themselves, we will be able to at least make sure we get some of the basics and avoid conflict,” said Gapare.

Raina Chadenanga also had the same view that GBV is mostly caused by not being able to live a decent life and also the issues of adultery in the families.

“The issue of not having a decent living is a big issue in the homes which is leading to conflicts in the houses and you end up blaming each other which is causing people to fight. Then the other issue of affairs out of matrimony has also contributed to GBV in the community,” said Chadenanga. 

Susan Mhlanga noted that it is difficult to cope with the fact that you cannot afford to have what you want all the time.

“Lacking is a very serious issue out there for everyone, the days are better when you have food on the table. Right now as we leave this place if it was to be given a few groceries it will be all smiles in different houses but when the food staff gets finished, the struggle then escalates leading to fights. When the days are good, couples are also happy but as things turn sour, the happiness disappears. 

About 1in every three women in aged between the ages of 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and about 1 in every 4 women hasexperienced sexual violence since the age of 15.

Related Articles

Comments are closed.