WM: Tell us a bit about GBV. What is it?
Roydah: GBV is the violence that is directed against a person on the basis of gender, it constitutes a breach of the fundamental rights of life, liberty, security, dignity and equality. It reflects inequalities between men and women.
WM: Often time’s people use the term GBV, while others use violence against women. Could you tell us the difference?
Roydah: There is a difference in the terms and the terminology matters, narrowing the language in the preamble to violence against women and vulnerability of women represents a step backward, it does not include all forms of violence that must be covered...GBV relates to social expectations and positions based on gender and can be committed by and aimed at both men and women though mostly GBV is committed by men directed against women and girls.
WM: Statistics in so many countries show that an estimated one in three women experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. Does this statics apply in Zambia?
Roydah: Yes, it does that’s why Zambia has the highest cases of GBV in the southern Africa, second is Botswana, Zimbabwe is third, South Africa is fourth and mauritius is at the bottom...in Zambia statistics shows that 47% of women have been GBV victims as early as 15years and 1/3 women are battered by close relations husbands or boyfriend. I therefore, feel this should be everyone's concern seeing that our Country Zambia which is a Christian nation and as a peaceful nation is on top when it comes to GBV.
WM: What are some of the detrimental effects of GBV on victims?
Roydah: First of all GBV harms the nation as a whole, while women are the immediate victims of GBV, it threatens family structures, children suffer emotional damage when they watch their mothers and sisters being battered. Secondly parent homes may break up leaving the new female heads of households to struggle against increased poverty and negative social repercussions. It is suffice to say that some victims of GBV vent their frustrations on their children and others thereby transmitting the negative experience of those around them, children on the other hand may come to accept violence as an alternative means of conflict resolutions and communication it also leads to high number of unemployment, increase in HIV and AIDS, in other ways Economic welfare of the Nation becomes so poor(these terrifying situations should be a wake up call to every mother, father, girl and boy out there. Is this what we really want for our mother Zambia? I challenge and implore every young and old person to come on board and fight the 47% GBV to 0%GBV).
WM: Could there be some form of violence that is invisible or probably which happens behind closed doors that legal system and cultural norms do not treat as a crime, but rather as a private family matter, or normal part of life?
Roydah: Precisely, there are so many forms of GBV that happens behind closed doors, for examples, there are so many wives that are beaten up almost every day by husbands and yet wives fail to report them cause they believe that if they report they would destroy their marriages and that’s not being a 'good wife' they so believe marriage in 'shipikisha club'. Other cases are were a husband forces himself on a wife and yet not reported because women think it’s a normal part of life...A father may rape/defile his daughter and the mother fails to report because she thinks she would destroy her family and make the children suffer. Some churches encourage their people not to report violence to the authority but instead encourage their members to report the matter I question to the church committee. On the other hand some boyfriends/ fiancé beats up their girlfriends or fiancée, it is so sad that some girls regard beatings by the boyfriends as love such that they don’t even report to the police. Against this, I am sure from these situations each one of us would know what role and obviously the right thing to do to fight GBV to 0% and the most important role here is reporting any form of violence to the authority.
WM: What causes GBV?
Roydah: There are so many causes of GBV but to mention just the main Causes of Gender Based Violence; Socio-cultural factors i.e. power relations, low status of women in society, socialization, traditions, customs, beliefs, attitudes, illiteracy and limited education; Legal factors i.e. dual legal systems, archaic laws, lack of commitment to international instruments, inadequate legal provisions, inaccessibility of legal services, attitudes of judicial officers and ignorance or rights and responsibilities, policies; Policies and practices i.e. negative policy environment, gender insensitive policies and lip services to international commitments; Economic factors i.e. economic dependence, poverty, limited opportunities and income sources, lack of control of own resources and alcohol abuse; Institutional factors i.e. the lack of or inadequate victim support services and distances from courts, health facilities, police services, etc.
WM: Could you highlight any case considered as GBV to men?
Roydah: Following that GBV also applies even to men, not so long ago we had a case were a wife cut her husband private parts, chances are that the wife probably started up a fight because the husband came late at home or perhaps he failed to provide what to eat. It is unfortunate that most women think the only way of defeating a man is by beating up his genitals, which is so lame, an evil mind.
WM: Is there a possibility that this vice could come to an end?
Roydah: Yes there is, especially that this is a fight for the general public. Let everyone of us pick a role of sensitizing GBV, every man, woman, actor, musician, comedian, pastor, elder, bishop, father, mother, teacher, boy, girl etc. take up this fight by so doing will form a bigger strong network to end GBV.
WM: What message of hope do you have for the victims and perpetrators of GBV?
Roydah: I want to urge victims of GBV to speak and reach out for help, to fight the fear in them of seeking for help; they should not let their frustrations out on the people around them but stand and fight this battle. Victims, let not everyone around you go through what you went through, consider yourself as a seed of roses once you blossom you will make the garden beautiful and that garden is Zambia our nation, let's make mother Zambia beautiful and never should you give up....
To the perpetrators... you have a bigger part in this battle, fight the dominant mind, get the knowledge and understanding of any form of violence and stay way, let violence be salt in your eyes, take up this responsibilities of making Zambia a beautiful garden, love your neighbor as you love yoself.
WM: What are you doing about it in your own capacity as Roydah?
Roydah: well, as Roydah I have taken a part in sensitization by writting and recording songs of GBV so as to make this nation understand wat this GBV is and how it can be stopped, aiming at reaching out to the whole nation...
WM: It was nice interviewing you and to wrap up the interview, what are your last words to the general public?
Roydah: They say 'Imiti ikula empanga’ as youths, small boy/girls the future of this nation is in our hands, let's end GBV and make Zambia a beautiful Garden of roses, let's take part in the sensitization, let’s have a fighting spirit till the battle is won, let's get the knowledge and understanding of GBV and stay away from any form of violence. As we take up this fight you should know that Jehovah is with us....
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