The Grassroots Campaign Launch

LINDA COMMUNITY HOSTS THE LAUNCH OF

“I CARE ABOUT HER!” GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN 

The afternoon of Friday 27th September was very inspiring. The people of Linda Compound in Lusaka came out in numbers to witness the launch of the “I Care About Her!” grassroots campaign at their community hall. Men and women even boys and girls were all present eager to learn more about stopping defilement, rape, beating and any activities that demean women in their community.

The launch was facilitated by Young Women’s Christian Association and Women’s Lobby Men’s Networks, Women in Law Southern Africa and Panos Institute of Southern Africa with support from Oxfam. 

The guest of honour was the Deputy Inspector General of the Zambia Police, Dr. Solomon Jere. A passionate ambassador of the campaign, Dr. Jere demonstrated through role plays what violence against women is and the role of the police.

He also shared a moving story of how the previous day the police picked up a body of a woman that had been beaten to death over a meal she had prepared. He said,“this woman had been killed by her husband  for having cooked vegetables. Sitting next to the body was a little girl crying for her mother to wake up. Imagine the the trauma and loss this child has been subjected to? She has lost her mother and father in horrible circumstances and her future is bleak because her providers are no more. Do you want this to happen to your children? If you don’t, then stop beating your wife.”

 Dr. Jere also informed the meeting that any form of violence against women is a serious offence that is not bail-able and comes with a heavy sentence. He urged the men present to learn non-violent ways of resolving conflict by joining the campaign.

At the same meeting, Francis Mbuluma testified of how seeking counseling has transformed him. He said that he was ashamed that he used to beat his wife at times for no apparent reason because he didn’t know better. Mbuluma urged men to stop beating their wives and commit to being good and responsible men. Today, Mbuluma is a community leader who is influencing other men in the community to join the “I Care About Her!” campaign. He concluded by saying, “I am actually a happy man than before”.

Woman Reports Husband to the DIG 

After The Launch Dr. Jere responding to the woman who reported her husband after the launch.
Both programmes are now in their fourth week of broadcast and the topics that have been discussed include: A Call To Men To Take Action On Stopping Violence Against Women as well as The Impact Of Rape and Defilement of Women and Girls on Fathers or Male Relations. Feedback from mostly male telephone callers is that the programme is very relevant and timely. One caller, Benson Bwalya from Northern Province said, “it is refreshing to see ordinary men on live TV making a strong stand on protecting women and girls, this is definitely the right step in creating a safe and violent free Zambia”. I Care About Her! Champions Are talking again common. Dr. Jere said that in most cases when a spouse is reported to the police by the wife, and then she later drops the charges, the abuser even gets more violent. Dr. Jere said he would be making changes at the station to improve the han-dling of GBV cases. He left his direct contact details with the woman and a number of community members to report unhelpful police officers to him directly.