Despite the figures of women suffering at the hands of abusive husbands being high, statistics taken from the Zimbabwe Republic Police by the council show a rise in men reporting these cases more than women. According to figures announced by the ADVC, there was a 23 percent rise of cases reported by men with women’s cases dropping by about 10 percent from 2016.
From the figures, men are increasingly being taunted and harmed by their wives. Briefing media, the council’s chairperson Mrs Eunice Njovana said the figures excluded other partners involved in the compiling of figures of GBV incidences.
“I think is important to give more context around the statistics to show what we are fussing about. These should show what is happening and what the incidences are. Just to give you a snapshot that in 2016, 1993 men reported cases of domestic violence perpetrated against them, against 17 673 women that reported in the same year.
“And we find that in 2017, 2461 men or males reported incidences of domestic violence perpetrated against them against 16 067 cases of women and girls who reported domestic violence. We are still compiling the total figures for 2018 and these are police reported figures. They exclude figures of other practitioners in the sector as you know there are many,” she said.
As of September 2018, the number of women reporting incidences of domestic violence was 10 000.
“But for 2018 which is up to September, 2183 men reported cases of domestic violence against 10 064 women,” said Mrs Njovana.
The highest number of cases reported were in Harare with the least in Matabeleland South.
“I think it has been due to the fact that there is more awareness and there are many places to take cases to,” said the council’s national coordinator Ms Madeline Chavhunduka
Msasa Programs Manager Ms Precious Taru said in 2018 they had 26 000 reports from women and females.
Both organisations said they do not condone domestic violence against women regardless of class, public status, or profile.
