3
Introduction
‘Women throughout the world face systemic attacks on their human rights and
chronic, routinized and legal discrimination and violence, much of it justified
through cultural and religious arguments. Even where discrimination is prohibited
it often persists in practice. By any reasonable measure, state failure to uphold
women’s rights as full and equal citizens sends an unmistakably clear message
to the broader community that women’s lives matter less, and that violence and
discrimination against them is acceptable.’1
Gender stereotyping, usually associated with a society which identifies with patriarchal norms, is
easily identified as prevalent in Zimbabwe where it often presents itself under the guise of
traditional African or conservative Christian values2. On several occasions in post-independent
Zimbabwe such values have been expressed by parliamentarians in the course of debating
gender-focused legislation. The most recent of many available examples arose in a parliamentary
debate over a Bill aimed at curbing domestic violence. The following excerpt from a press article
on the debate, quoting MP Timothy Mubhawu3, is illustrative:
“I stand here representing God Almighty. Women are not equal to men,"
[Mubhawu] said amid jeers from women parliamentarians. "It is a dangerous Bill
and let it be known in Zimbabwe that the right, privilege and status of men is
gone. I stand here alone and say this Bill should not be passed in this House. It
is a diabolic Bill. Our powers are being usurped in daylight in this House." The
proposed law, Mr. Mubhawu said, was crafted in a manner that promoted
western cultural values. …. Mr. Mubhawu said the issue of proper dressing by
women should also be addressed in the Bill as "some of the dressing by women
is too inviting." Women in positions of authority, he said, should be role models
in their marriages. "Women leaders in Government, judiciary and Parliament
should be exemplary by at least marrying," he said.4
In Zimbabwe, despite equality clauses in the country’s Constitution and the fact that Zimbabwe is
a signatory to CEDAW5, the perception of women as in some way “belonging” to men or
beholden to them remains strong6. The Domestic Violence bill proved controversial precisely
because of the perception amongst some men that they should, and indeed ought, to physically
1
2
3
4
5
6
‘In War as in Peace: Sexual Violence and Women’s Status’ Human Rights Watch Report 2004
A useful outline of traditional practices appears in a Country Report on gender based violence by the Zimbabwe
Attorney-General’s Office available at: http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/pdf/PDF_rms/no69/11_P144-158.pdf accessed
21/1/06 accessed 21/11/06.
Interestingly, Mubhawu is believed by fellow female MDC legislator Trudy Stevenson to have orchestrated the severe
assault to which she was subjected in 2006, though he was acquitted of the charges brought against him in this
regard.
The Herald (Zimbabwe) Debate on Domestic Violence Bill Persists October 05, 2006
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
See fig 2 above.
“A Woman’s Place is in the Home ?” – Gender Based Violence and Opposition Politics in Zimbabwe.