Zimbabwe bishop deplores domestic violence

Dr Chad Nicholas Gandiya

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Harare, Dr Chad Nicholas Gandiya, has urged Anglicans and the broader society to shun violence in its various forms. Speaking last Saturday, he raised three issues - domestic violence, early child marriages and human trafficking as the major causes that the Anglican Church has to seriously address. He urged all Church members to make these key issues their business so that the Church is seen to be playing its important role of spreading the message of hope and peace in society.

"The Anglican Diocese of Harare rejects all forms of domestic violence" he said. And he spoke at length about cases of under-age marriages where poverty stricken parents and guardians have married off their young girls below the age of 18 years to elderly men. He said this year very little rains fell, and this has exerted more pressure on poor parents and guardians who were unable to plant anything in their fields, and there has been severe hunger among the people. Bishop Gandiya said: "the drought and the resultant food shortages should not be used to abuse these young children; parents do not allow your young daughters to go into premature marriages because of five bags of maize or even hundred bags; that is not right".

On human trafficking, the Bishop said many people are being offered very attractive packages when they seek alternative employment in foreign countries through advertisements placed in local newspapers. He said it was unfortunate that in the majority of the cases, particularly relating to Kuwait and other Middle East destinations, professional girls from Zimbabwe are being exploited and forced into prostitution once they go to those countries. "The economic and social hardships being experienced by people, including in the Church, have forced some to seek jobs in dangerous places where they end up being slaves," Bishop Chad reported.

Precious Shumba is the Press Officer of the Anglican Diocese of Harare.