The managing director and founder of the Munna Ndi Nnyi Men's Forum, Mr Bardwell Mufunwaini, is calling on all members of the community to come together and fight against the scourge of gender-based violence.
When addressing members of the judiciary and the public during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence at the Sibasa Regional Court last Tuesday, Mufunwaini said people should realise that not only women and children were abused in this country, but that men could also be victims.
"We must not only look at one gender when addressing this problem as it affects both men and women," he said. Mufunwaini suggested that women's forums should also get involved in the fight against gender-based violence when men were the victims.
Mufunwaini criticised a live drama performed at Bunzhe village, where the problem of GBV was illustrated. "The drama shows a man who was being abused by his wife after losing his job. He ended up trying to get a gun to kill her. As the Men's Forum, we don't condone dramas with a catastrophic ending, but we encourage dramas with a happy ending," he said.
"Parents and members of the community must come together and fight against the airing of dramas that encourage violence in our communities. Together, we can win the war against gender-based violence," he said.
He concluded by saying that the Munna Ndi Nnyi Men's Forum would be holding GBV-awareness campaigns all over Vhembe District. On 10 December, they will be at the Thengwe Tribal Authority's offices, and on 15 and 16 December, they will visit Tshidzivhe village and the Thohoyandou Library, respectively.