Story by Courage Bushe
AS the nation marks 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the need for the establishment of rehabilitation centres to support survivors of the social ill has come under the spotlight.
Born with a disability, Marrygold Shumba (not her real name) was married for 15 years but her dream of having a happy family started to encounter obstacles just four years into marriage after her husband started to physically abuse her.
Not only would her partner physically abuse her, but he would take all the money she gets from her vegetable business.
“I was married to this man and after 4 years into marriage, that’s when I started to discover the other side of my ex-husband. Maybe because he was able-bodied he would physically abuse me and take all the money I would have gotten from my selling business. So, three years ago after he broke my hands I thought of leaving the marriage,” she said.
According to Mrs Doubt Majoni, a Counsellor and representative of For 4 Girls Focus Trust, supporting people with disabilities who are victims of gender-based violence is crucial.
She said, “We need to give them the necessary support they need and in doing so we need more rehab centres where they can be educated and also educate the society that we are all equal with equal opportunities in life.”
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence runs from the 25th of November to the 10th of December.
