Staff Reporter

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases accounted for 25 percent of murder cases processed by the Gweru High Court Circuit in the year 2023, as revealed recently.

High Court Judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa, speaking at the official opening of the 2024 legal year, disclosed that out of the 55 murder cases handled by the circuit in 2023, 14 were attributed to GBV.

“Out of the 55 cases dealt with in 2023, 14 deaths were due to gender-based violence. The current circuit court has a total of 18 cases, and four of these are related to gender-based violence. This is a worrying trend, indicating occurrence rates of 25 and 22 percent,” she stated.

Justice Kabasa emphasized that while men can also be victims, women remain the primary targets of GBV.

“Women have been killed by those who vowed to love and cherish them. Men are also victims of GBV, but they are predominantly the perpetrators, while women are the victims. The right to life is a fundamental human right enshrined in Section 48 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and society should therefore respect the sanctity of life,” she underscored.

Justice Kabasa highlighted the government’s commitment to eradicating GBV, stressing the need for society to complement these efforts.