Women Irked by Domestic Violence Stage Street Protests

WASHINGTON DC —  Zimbabwean women took to the streets on Monday protesting against gender-based violence following the alleged killing of a Women’s University in Africa student, Isabel Masuka, by her husband, who then took his own life.

Women’s groups teamed up and staged peaceful protests in Harare to raise awareness together with Isabel’s colleagues from the Women’s University in Africa and Women Film Makers of Zimbabwe.

Director Grace Chirenje of the Zimbabwe Young Women’s Network for Peace, whose organisation also participated in the march, said she was impressed by the numbers of women who came out to call for an end to gender-based violence.

Women’s Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri led the calls for action against gender-based violence in her address to the women.

Chirenje said the rallying point on Monday by the women was the call on the government to enact stringent laws to protect girls and women from gender-based violence and related issues.

"We hope that Government will put more money in programmes that promote Women's rights and also enact laws that will protect girls and women from gender based violence and related issues,"said Chirenje.
The protestors marched from Africa Unity Square around to the university’s Mt. Pleasant campus.