The Sunday News
Rumbidzai Mbewe, Sunday Life Correspondent
Every year in the month of November, the world joins hands in commemorating 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
This year’s celebrations will kick off on 25 November to 10 December and will run under the theme “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World, Make Education Safe for all”.
One of the survivors of gender-based violence, former Studio 263 actress, Tinopona “Tin Tin” Katsande who was bashed by her then boyfriend, Brian Munjodzi allegedly because she asked him to do dishes while she did laundry.
Tinopona said she has come to realise that the deeper evil in domestic violence is not just the perpetrator but society’s insistence of keeping the violation under the carpet.
“By not talking about domestic violence as a family, community, the society indirectly propels the evil. It is therefore paramount to speak out against gender-based violence,” he said.
Tin Tin said her experience forced her to think of how best she could use the platform she has as a public personality to end violence against women and girls.
“The experience was very traumatising and more so emotionally, mentally and even spiritually more than just the physical trauma. I created my organisation Speak Out Handinyarare whose mandate is to raise funds to build safe houses for abused women across the country,” she said.
She pointed out that gender-based violence affected women as contributors or providers for the family as the woman has to take time off to heal after the beating. She urged women who are in abusive relationships to leave as this can lead to loss of life.
“The cycle of abuse has such devastating ripple effects. It affects women in their homes as care givers and it also affects the symbiotic flow in a family unit especially where there are children,” she said.
The actress encouraged victims of gender-based violence to speak out so that they get assistance.
“If you are in an abusive relationship, turn to someone you know will assist you, move away from that environment and give yourself time to review what is going on and the effects its negatively having on you and your children. Then get up, make a permanent move to never be in that environment again. Do not stay with a partner who beats you up. That’s not love,” she said.
Besides the organisation that she has established, Tinopona speaks through different mediums to spread awareness on gender-based violence.
“I always share awareness with my fellow women through film, television, theatre and support groups. I am sure that through these mediums I help a soul on a daily basis,” she said.
Last year she ran an online campaign #RealMenNailItZw which encouraged men to apply orange nail polish. The campaign ran through different social media networks and its aim was to get 100 000 men and boys across all social, political, religious and cultural divide to come together during the 16 days of activism in solidarity against domestic violence and gender-based violence.
