GBV’s long term effect on children

By Duduzile Ruzive

Yowana Moyo (9) is a young girl from Emganwini, a high density suburb in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second biggest city. Yowana lives with her grandmother, after her mother was killed in cold blood in a chilling case of Gender Based Violence.

Yowana’s grandmother who is affectionately called MaMlondo says her granddaughter’s life has never been the same after losing her parents and worst of all witnessing the violent death.

“My granddaughter has been through difficult times. When she was staying with her parents, she witnessed her parents fighting on several occasions. She was traumatised by the seemingly endless fights but the worst was when she witnessed her father stabbing her mother to death,” says MaMlondo.

MaMlondo says Yowana’s father was immediately arrested for the murder and was send to jail. She says she had to take the responsibility of taking care of her granddaughter. MaMlondo says she feels that her granddaughter requires counselling support from professional councillors so that she can live a normal life.

“Government social workers helped my granddaughter soon after the incident. However, I feel that she still requires a lot of support. What she witnessed may have serious implications in future if she does not get proper care,” says MaMlondo.

MaMlondo says the current challenges such as teen pregnancies, substance abuse among young people and crime would be attributed to growing up in an abusive environment, especially where Gender Based Violence is prevalent.

“I am worried about my daughter. She does not want to play with her peers and does not show any signs of enjoying life. I am afraid she may be tempted to get into drugs or have sexual relationships. She is just vulnerable and I do not know what to do. I have no money to take her for professional help,” says MaMlondo.

MaMlondo’s worries are anchored on the current trends in the country where young people are hogging the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Several cases of girls as young as 12 years are reported to be indulging in multiple sexual relationships with some falling pregnant.

“Some of the things that we are witnessing now are shocking. But the nature of families in the country has changed and I understand the reason behind all these challenges. We no longer have safety nets to support children. Many children are staying on their own because the parents are in the diaspora, looking for better jobs,” says MaMlondo.

MaMlondo says the other reason why children are growing in broken families include deaths due to diseases such as Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the ever increasing number of divorces.

“When parents’ divorce, children are left in precarious situations. Most divorce cases are linked to Gender Based Violence. As adults, we are failing to provide conducive environment for children to do well,” says MaMlondo.