Teachers from St Mary’s Primary School in Nyanga picketed outside the school against gender-based violence (GBV) on Monday 21 September.
The initiative was prompted by the killings of women across the country. The teachers wore all black and carried placards and candles to mourn those who lost their lives to GBV.

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School principal Maggy Mkoko described the event as a sign of their support for all the families of victims. She lambasted the perpetrators for their evil actions and described them as cowards, saying GBV was becoming the norm in their communities.
“As the only school church in the vicinity, we felt we can’t keep quiet while the nation is in tatters. What is happening in the community is also affecting the school. Sometimes learners come to school untidy because their parents were fighting. It affects them psychologically and ends up having an impact on their studies,” Mkoko explained.

GBV affects both genders

Mkoko stated that GBV affects both genders and urged men to speak out against it.
“We cannot run away from the fact that there are men who are abused by their partners. We want them to speak out instead of bottling up their feelings,” she said.
She urged the government to use all the resources at its disposal to trace the perpetrators.

‘Enough is enough’

Teacher Patrick Qhamarana lambasted men who abuse women and children.
“As men, we support the campaign. We are here to protect our children and women, not the other way around. We need to be good examples to our society. It is high time as men to say enough is enough,” said Qhamarana.