By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) has called on government to protect women and girl’s rights during the Covid-19 lockdown period.
ZACRAS expressed their concern and encouraged citizens to report cases of gender based violence to relevant authorities.
According to Msasa Project cases of gender based violence spiked during the national lockdown.
“Protect women and girls during the Covid-19 induced lockdown. Report all cases of gender based violence,” ZACRAS said.
Government recently published a report stating that nearly 5,000 teenage girls fell pregnant between January and February of 2021.
About 1,800 teenage girls entered early marriages at the time the country experienced a rise in number teenage pregnant cases.
Furthermore, Zimbabwe also recorded an increase of gender based violence cases during the lockdown period where during the early days of the lockdown in March 2020 a national hotline under Msasa Project recorded 764 reported cases.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic national hotline recorded 500-600 cases a month.
