News

Hazel Marimbiza Bulawayo, 3 December: When she gets to her clients house, she is shocked to see 10 other men who want to have sex with her. The initial agreement was for her to service one client, but she gets death threats for refusing to sleep with the other 10. That is just one of […]

By Nyasha Dube Zvishavane, 2 December : Juliet Kwashira is a widow in her mid-forties. She comes from Masendeke village under Chief Banga of Shurugwi, a small mining community located in the Midlands province, Zimbabwe. Kwashira lost her husband in 1999 and had no form of ownership over her late husband’s properties. Having been married […]

Matiisetso Mosala Maseru, 1 December: Cultural norms have dictated that women shy away from acts that expose their sexual desires. Women in Lesotho are frowned at if found carrying condoms on them. This exposes them to unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and further elevates their risk of contracting HIV. The female condom, known as femidom, […]

By Faith N Tori Matabeland North-Zimbabwe “My mother watched helplessly as my father coerced me in his sexual advances ,take off your clothes now he would aggressively demand .l will chop off your head with that spear(pointing to the spear which lay next to my mother),said Ntando. Ntando 21, (not her real name) is a […]

Namibia, 26 November: As the votes come in from Namibia’s elections yesterday, women’s representation in parliament is likely to increase from 40% to 43% according to predictions by Gender Links Namibia (GLN). This will place Namibia second after South Africa in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and add to pressure for a legislated quota […]

By John Namkwahe Arusha, 27 November: Coming from a poor family, Sarah* from Sekei in Arusha, Tanzania, this year dropped out of school due to pregnancy. “It was difficult to continue with studies because of my appearance,” explains the 13-year-old girl with a very small stature A story behind Sarah’s teenage pregnancy is being told […]

By Sifiso Nhlabatsi Manzini, 26 November: As the Kingdom of Eswatini joins the world in commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) in Eswatini has hailed the country for coming up with the most comprehensive law to curb gender based violence. CANGO is an umbrella body […]

Antananarivo, 26 November:  As Madagascar gears up for local elections tomorrow every indication is that women’s representation is likely to decline as there are no female candidates fielded in the major cities where the ruling party is likely to win. Currently women comprise a mere 8% of councilors. In a decree issued just before the […]

By Bongiwe Zwane A slap, an apology and an overseas trip – this was the normal order of things in her marriage. This went on for over a decade until she decided she couldn’t take it anymore and slowly weaved her way out and reclaimed her life. Accounting professional and mother of two girls, Lindiwe […]

By Joseph Kayira*  Lilongwe, 26 November 2019 – Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and government say the battle against Gender Based Violence (GBV) is on track with more people joining the conversation openly discussing the evils of any form of violence both at family and national level, but concede challenges prevail. Prominent gender activist and chairperson […]