Zimbabwe Gender Commission: 90-Day IPV Campaign Targets Domestic Violence

• The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has launched a 90-day national campaign targeting intimate partner violence (IPV) from October to December 2026.
• Chairperson Leslie Ncube highlighted increasing reports of domestic disputes escalating to fatalities and the need to shift from reactive to preventive measures.
• Official data reveals 13,838 cases of sexual offenses and aggravated domestic violence in 2024, with 27% of Zimbabwean women experiencing physical violence in their lifetime.
• The campaign emphasizes that IPV is a human rights and development concern, not a private matter, and aims to address underreporting due to fear and stigma.
• It involves a multi-stakeholder approach, calling on employers to establish safe referral mechanisms and communities to report violence in line with domestic legislation.

Intimate partner violence is not merely a private family matter but a profound human rights, gender equality, social, and developmental concern demanding a unified national response.

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has launched a comprehensive 90-day national campaign aimed at combating intimate partner violence (IPV), signaling a significant escalation in efforts to address this pervasive issue. Chairperson Leslie Ncube announced the initiative at a media briefing in Harare, expressing profound concern over the escalating reports of domestic disputes that frequently result in fatalities. The campaign, which is set to run from October to December 2026, will culminate in the internationally recognized 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

This focused drive by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission seeks to fundamentally shift the national discourse from merely reacting to violence after it occurs to proactively preventing it. Key objectives include fostering early identification of warning signs, promoting mental health dialogue, cultivating healthy relationships, and encouraging peaceful conflict resolution. Furthermore, the campaign emphasizes the critical importance of reporting incidents, providing robust survivor support, and ensuring institutional accountability across various sectors.

Leslie Ncube underscored that intimate partner violence cannot be dismissed as a private family matter. Instead, it represents a critical human rights, gender equality, social, and developmental concern that necessitates a coordinated national response. This declaration highlights the commission's intent to embed the fight against IPV within the broader framework of societal well-being and justice.

Official figures paint a stark picture of the prevalence of domestic abuse in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Republic Police documented at least 13,838 cases of sexual offenses and aggravated domestic violence during 2024 alone. Further data from the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2023–2024 reveals that a significant 27 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence in their lifetime, with nine percent reporting sexual violence.

Despite these alarming Zimbabwe intimate partner violence statistics, Chairperson Ncube cautioned that these numbers likely represent only the tip of the iceberg. Many incidents remain unreported due to a complex array of factors, including fear, social stigma, economic dependence, shame, threats, societal pressure, insufficient information, concerns about family breakdown, and limited access to essential support services. This underreporting underscores the hidden burden of Gender-Based Violence Zimbabwe faces.

While women and girls disproportionately bear the brunt of gender-based violence, the campaign acknowledges that men and boys are also victims. Their experiences, however, often remain concealed due to societal stigma, shame, fear of ridicule, harmful expectations surrounding masculinity, and inadequate access to appropriate support mechanisms. The Zimbabwe Gender Commission is committed to ensuring that all survivors, irrespective of gender, can access vital information, protection, justice, and referral services.

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission 90-day IPV campaign is designed as a multi-stakeholder effort, bringing together a diverse array of partners including government bodies, civil society organizations, development partners, the private sector, local communities, media outlets, and both faith-based and traditional leaders. This collaborative approach is structured around five key areas: enhancing public awareness and sensitisation, engaging government and other institutions, enlisting men and boys as active partners in prevention, collaborating with faith and traditional leaders to foster peaceful homes, and building supportive and safe workplaces.

Leslie Ncube emphasized that the responsibility for ending intimate partner violence cannot be delegated solely to law enforcement, government agencies, the commission, civil society, or survivors themselves. It requires a collective commitment from all segments of society. Specific appeals have been made: men and boys are urged to reject violence and champion respectful relationships; women and girls are encouraged to understand their rights and seek support; parents are called upon to instill self-respect and peaceful conflict resolution skills in their children.

Crucially, employers are tasked with establishing safe referral mechanisms within their organizations, while communities are implored to report violence in strict accordance with Zimbabwe domestic violence legislation, rather than turning a blind eye. The media is also called upon to report on IPV accurately and ethically, avoiding sensationalism. This comprehensive strategy aims to create a society where every home is a place of safety, dignity, love, and respect, not fear, thereby protecting individuals, strengthening families, and safeguarding the future of communities.

Lawyers and compliance officers should advise corporate clients and organizations to review and strengthen internal policies for reporting and addressing intimate partner violence, including establishing safe referral mechanisms, to ensure compliance with domestic violence legislation and mitigate potential liabilities arising from increased public awareness and institutional accountability driven by this national campaign.

Source: Original reporting via news agency dispatches