Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) has again called for an immediate end to the scourge of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide.
The call was made during a prayer session that was conducted from the GSDM Council Chambers on Thursday, 25 June where less than 50 delegates were gathered, while others joined virtually in line with the lockdown alert level 3 regulations.
Leaders from various faith-based organisations joined the GSDM political and administrative leadership during the prayer session which was held under the theme: “An Outcry for spiritual Intervention against COVID-19, Gender Based Violence and Femicide”.
In his address, GSDM Executive Mayor, Cllr Muzi Chirwa said the municipality was very much concerned by the emergence of violence directed at women and children.
“These acts of Gender Based Violence and Femicide are rising and they are done by some of us in the society, in particular men. That is why as the collective leadership of this municipality, we are calling on men to desist from this conduct of abusing and killing of women and children,” said Chirwa.
He also announced that GSDM would be hosting a first ‘District Women and Men Parliament’ the following day 26 June 2020 virtually to try and find solutions in fighting the scourge and grow the District together.
He further added that the municipality had the full confidence on all the law enforcement agencies that they will act swiftly against the perpetrators of Gender Based Violence and called on members of the community to work with them by reporting incidents to the police.
Chirwa also raised his concerns about the sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 infection rates in the country, particularly in the District and called on all to remain vigilant.
The leaders of the faith-based organisations applauded the GSDM for the initiative and pledged their support.
