Thread by @OpenParlyZw

BOYS ALSO SUFFER FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LIKE GIRLS

HON ROBSON MAVENYENGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for allowing me the opportunity to add my voice to the motion brought by Hon. Bhuda concerning gender based violence which is mainly targeted against women and children. @wlsazim

HON MAVENYENGWA: I am a parent, I have a girl child and it pains me to witness the girl child being abused especially when they live with people who are not their natural parents. If people live with a step mother in most cases, they are ill treated.@YetTrust @NAYOZimbabwe

HON MAVENYENGWA: They grow up in an environment that is not conducive for children. There was a case where we ended up having to call the police because the stepmother was ill treating the child. @Y4pdZ @Youth4SDGsZim @NYDT1 @Youthdecidezw @moysarzim

HON. MAVENYENGWA: The child would draw water, look for wood and do everything to the extent that the child was failing to go to school. The father was there and was seeing these events unfold with his own eyes. That also touched me as the local Member of Parliament.

HON. MAVENYENGWA: I ended up looking for the police& those from Social Welfare department to ensure they assist the child. We are saying that Govt should come up with laws& penalties that are deterrent especially in GBV especially where the mother has passed away.

HON MAVENYENGWA; Domestic violence is mainly targeted against women and children but there are also wives that abuse their husbands. There are wives who do not listen or respect their husbands. They go away and come back very drunk and in the process abuse the husband.

HON MAVENYENGWA: At times its the wife who is abusive to husband, when the wife is expected to do certain duties& by failing those duties or meet obligation she would be reminded of the fact that there are certain obligations, that are expected of a married woman by her husband.

HON MAVENYENGWA: Gender based violence is not only targeted at women and girls, it also even targets the boys. I reiterate that gender based violence targets both males and females, though in the majority of the cases, it is found in women and the girls.

HON MAVENYENGWA: It is the children and the women who are mostly abused and we should put an end to such behaviour. This is prevalent in some homesteads and this is prevalent in second marriages. You are bound to witness a lot of domestic violence.

HON. MAVENYENGWA: This may even affect the performance of our children in school because of the violence at home. The father might be assaulting the mother in presence of the children. This may have psychological effect on the child and be detrimental to the child’s performance.

HON. MAVENYENGWA: Stringent laws and sentences should be put in place for those offenders of domestic violence. It affects people’s lives and this may lead some into drug abuse or prostitution or become street kids. Some will end up being thieves and will not live a good life.

HON. MAVENYENGWA: Mr. Speaker, I thought I should add a few words to the motion. I thank you.