From 16 days to 365 days against GBV

_{ALL the way from Maphisa centre to Gohole ward 3, from Gohole to Mabonyane ward 10, spreading the word against gender-based violence (GBV)}

_{Villagers in Matobo were encouraged to campaign 365 days against Gender Based Violence beyond the designated 16 days. This was said by the representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small to Medium Enterprises Development during the Oxfam funded GBV campaign roadshow held at 3 wards in Matobo district.}

_{In a bid to commemorate the 16 days of activism against GVB, Oxfam in partnership with HOCIC conducted a roadshow in Matobo on the 4th of December 2020. The roadshow aimed at raising awareness on Gender-based-violence through entertainment.}

_{HOCIC and Oxfam were accompanied by Matobo district stakeholders, amongst them where the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small to Medium Enterprises Development, Rural District Councilors, Village Heads, Musasa, Securing Rights Community activists, and Community Facilitators, among others.}

_{Stakeholders in Matobo district expressed confidence that campaigns during the 16 days will reduce violence.}

_{“We spread the word against GBV and violence against women and girls, together we can end this,” said the women affairs representative, Cristina Nyathi.}

_{She expressed that the campaigns should stretch beyond the designated 16 days, but instead be an all-year-round action.}

_{“Let us move beyond the 16 days of activism against GBV, we experience GBV each day, hence each day should be of activism against GBV. 365 days of activism against GBV,” she added.}

_{HOCIC has been campaignig aganst Violence on Girls and Women in Matobo district in Matabeleland South during the 16 Days of Activism under the securing Rights Program (SRP), in partnership with Oxfam.}

_{The headline performance was by Pauline Gundidza of the popular Mafriq outfit that dominated Zimbabwe’s urban Grooves in the start of the millennium. Pauline is a musician and ambassador of Oxfam who now uses music as a gender advocacy tool. She is also a GBV survivor.}

_{This was also an early Christmas for Matobo district villagers who won t-shirts and Caps branded “Orange the world: Fund, Prevent, Collect, Respond” from Oxfam.}

_{They were joyful of this event, as they attended in numbers in all 3 wards.}

_{“We thank you for such an insightful event that educates the community about GBV. These events also make the work of the community activists and facilitators more easily,” said one of the villagers in ward 3 Gohole, Sibonile Ndlovu}.