Stakeholders meeting in Zvishavane on Wednesday issued an urgent call for the establishment of a One-Stop Centre for survivors of gender-based violence, warning that the current fragmented system is failing victims and undermining justice.
The meeting, convened by the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, heard that survivors are often forced to move between police stations, hospitals and social welfare offices to access help, a process described as exhausting, slow and, in many cases, discouraging.
Doubt Majoni, director of For Four Girls Trust, said a centralized facility at Zvishavane District Hospital would allow survivors to receive medical care, report cases and access psychosocial support in one place. She said the proposed centre should bring together key institutions including the police, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the National AIDS Council and the Department of Social Welfare.
The push for an integrated response comes amid persistent high levels of gender-based violence in Zimbabwe. Data from the United Nations and national surveys show that about one in three women have experienced physical violence, while nearly one in four have faced sexual violence since the age of 15. Another estimate puts physical violence at around 39 percent of women, underscoring the scale of the crisis.
Advocates say the impact of these figures is compounded by systemic gaps in service delivery, particularly in smaller towns and mining communities such as Zvishavane. Survivors often face delays in medical examinations, repeated questioning by different authorities and logistical challenges that can weaken cases and discourage reporting.
Cases involving rape, aggravated indecent assault and sexual harassment require coordinated medical, legal and social intervention, stakeholders said, adding that the absence of a unified response continues to expose victims to further trauma.
The proposed One-Stop Centre is expected to streamline evidence collection, improve case management and ensure timely support for survivors, with stakeholders urging authorities to prioritise its establishment as part of broader efforts to curb gender-based violence.
