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- Jul 19, 2013
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Come to our rescue, our wives beat us: TZ violence victims
In many cases, the main victims of gender-based violence are women and children. But in Sumbawanga, Tanzania, men say they are frequently at the receiving end. PHOTO | FILE
By THE CITIZEN REPORTER
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IN SUMMARY
Violence victims say their wives harass and beat them, and some go to the extent of scalding them with hot water.
Some complain that their wives leave children in their care, against African tradition, and go to bars.
They asked NGOs and the government to come to their rescue.
SUMBAWANGA
There is a growing tendency of wives beating their husbands here, prompting some of them to call upon the government and non-governmental organisations to come to their rescue.
Speaking during a public rally at Zimba Village in Sumbawanga District, Rukwa Region, several men said they were direct victims of the problem.
GENDER VIOLENCE
The meeting was a brainchild of Lichide Organisation, which is sponsored by the Foundation for Civil Society (TCS).
"We are being harassed by our wives in this village. Whenever you arrive late at home you are beaten up by an angry wife,” said Mr John Myovela.
He said sometimes, wives leave their children in the care of their husbands, which is contrary to African traditions.
“It would be fine if they were to leave the kids to us because they have some productive undertakings to work on but surprisingly, they only end up shifting from one traditional bar to another, drinking locally-brewed alcohol.
“We don’t report to desks dealing with gender-based violence because we as men we feel ashamed of doing so,” he said.
Mr Ernest Mahela, a resident in the village said gender-based violence was on the increase not only against the women and the children, but also directed on men – who are being beaten up by their wives.
In extreme circumstances, women go to the extent of pouring hot water on their husbands.
Reverend Peter Kawagewe, the director of the Peace Relief Organisation, concurred with the men and called for a comprehensive study on the matter.
"A study on this matter is important because men have been finding it ashaming to report the incidences to authorities, including the police,” he said.
DATA
A social development officer in the district, Mr Elias Masangola, admitted that men were being harassed in the district, noting however that it has been difficult to establish the magnitude of the problem because authorities did not have the statistics.
“For instance, in 2016/17, only four men reported the incidences to police stations as compared to the women who have been reporting in majority,” he said.
Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) report of 2010 shows that gender-based violence against women and children was at 44 percent, with top three regions being Mara (72), Dodoma (71) and Rukwa (56).
In many cases, the main victims of gender-based violence are women and children. But in Sumbawanga, Tanzania, men say they are frequently at the receiving end. PHOTO | FILE
By THE CITIZEN REPORTER
More by this Author
IN SUMMARY
Violence victims say their wives harass and beat them, and some go to the extent of scalding them with hot water.
Some complain that their wives leave children in their care, against African tradition, and go to bars.
They asked NGOs and the government to come to their rescue.
SUMBAWANGA
There is a growing tendency of wives beating their husbands here, prompting some of them to call upon the government and non-governmental organisations to come to their rescue.
Speaking during a public rally at Zimba Village in Sumbawanga District, Rukwa Region, several men said they were direct victims of the problem.
GENDER VIOLENCE
The meeting was a brainchild of Lichide Organisation, which is sponsored by the Foundation for Civil Society (TCS).
"We are being harassed by our wives in this village. Whenever you arrive late at home you are beaten up by an angry wife,” said Mr John Myovela.
He said sometimes, wives leave their children in the care of their husbands, which is contrary to African traditions.
“It would be fine if they were to leave the kids to us because they have some productive undertakings to work on but surprisingly, they only end up shifting from one traditional bar to another, drinking locally-brewed alcohol.
“We don’t report to desks dealing with gender-based violence because we as men we feel ashamed of doing so,” he said.
Mr Ernest Mahela, a resident in the village said gender-based violence was on the increase not only against the women and the children, but also directed on men – who are being beaten up by their wives.
In extreme circumstances, women go to the extent of pouring hot water on their husbands.
Reverend Peter Kawagewe, the director of the Peace Relief Organisation, concurred with the men and called for a comprehensive study on the matter.
"A study on this matter is important because men have been finding it ashaming to report the incidences to authorities, including the police,” he said.
DATA
A social development officer in the district, Mr Elias Masangola, admitted that men were being harassed in the district, noting however that it has been difficult to establish the magnitude of the problem because authorities did not have the statistics.
“For instance, in 2016/17, only four men reported the incidences to police stations as compared to the women who have been reporting in majority,” he said.
Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) report of 2010 shows that gender-based violence against women and children was at 44 percent, with top three regions being Mara (72), Dodoma (71) and Rukwa (56).