Women with disability more vulnerable to abuse

By Bekezela Mguni

Women with disabilities say they are not spared from the scourge of Gender Based Violence that is rampant in the country. Munashe Mubaiwa (40), who is blind says she has experienced different forms of abuse such as physical and emotional violence from her husband.

Munashe who lives in Magwegwe Old in Bulawayo metropolitan province says she was not born blind but developed the condition when she was already married. She adds that due to her condition, she relies on family members for routine activities, a situation that she feels she is being resented.

“People with disabilities are experience Gender Based Violence differently from those without disabilities. Due to my condition, I rely on him for support but he seems to resend my condition and I suspect that he has some extra marital relationships. He does not spend time with me and each time I ask him he resorts to violence and insults,” says Munashe.

Munashe says her husband’s work as a cross-border transporter makes it difficult for her to have an idea of his work schedule. She says her husband spends most of his work time in South Africa and on several occasions some people have told her that he has some girlfriends.

“The main challenge is that as someone with a disability, I need continual assurance that everything is ok. However, my husband has no time for that. He lives his life as if I do not exist. This is just too painful for me,” says Munashe.

Munashe says she wishes there was a Home Based Care (HBC) support in community for people with disabilities.

“Secondary Caregivers from the community could help me deal with this issue because it seems those who are related to me now consider me to be a burden. They also need some time to be on their own and seem tired of attending to my needs,” says Munashe.

Munashe adds that the reason why many people with disabilities end up begging is to raise funds to pay people, including family members.

Pricifia Ngema (38) a community member says that culture is a significant driver in the marginalization of people with disabilities.

“In Zimbabwe, some communities associate disability with witchcraft or evil. People with disabilities are considered to be cursed and no one wants to help them or associate with them. This may also be the reason why even close family members shun their relatives who have disabilities,” says Prificia.

Rachael Mubaiwa (28), who has a relative who is disabled says that women with disabilities are disproportionately affected because society expects them to play their roles as mothers and caregivers in the family.

“According to some traditional practices, women are supposed to take care of their families. Any woman who cannot do that is not considered to be a good wife. The husband’s relatives may put pressure on him to divorce such a woman. Women with disabilities suffer psychologically because of that,” says Rachael.

Munashe says her life is a daily struggle and with the country experiencing an economic crisis, people with disabilities like her are likely to face more challenges. She adds that as much as she cannot do certain things, her disability does not mean she cannot do some things for herself and her family.