From Shadows to Statistics: How Accurate GBV Data Can Transform Zimbabwe’s Response

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pressing issue in Zimbabwe, affecting countless women and girls across the country. While efforts to address GBV continue, one critical aspect often overlooked is the role of accurate data in shaping effective responses. Without reliable statistics, interventions risk being misdirected, underfunded or failing to address the real needs of survivors.

Recognizing this, organizations such as UN Women and ZIMSTAT are collaborating with key stakeholders, including the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the Ministry of Health and Child Care to strengthen administrative data governance and management. But what makes accurate GBV data so crucial and what barriers hinder its collection?

Why Accurate GBV Data Matters

1. Informed Policy and Resource Allocation

Without concrete data, policymakers operate in the dark, relying on assumptions rather than facts. Accurate statistics help in identifying trends, high-risk areas and vulnerable populations, ensuring that resources such as shelters, counseling services and legal aid are directed where they are most needed.

2. Measuring the Impact of GBV Interventions

Programs designed to combat GBV need measurable outcomes to assess their effectiveness. Data allows organizations to track progress, identify gaps and refine their approaches. Without this feedback loop, interventions may remain stagnant or ineffective.

3. Enhancing Legal and Justice Responses

The criminal justice system relies on strong evidence to prosecute GBV cases effectively. When data collection is weak or inconsistent, it can result in fewer convictions, prolonged legal processes and survivors losing faith in the system.

4. Breaking the Cycle of Silence

Comprehensive data helps raise awareness about the prevalence of GBV. When survivors and communities see that their experiences are reflected in national statistics, it can encourage more people to report abuse, seek support and advocate for change.

Barriers to Accurate GBV Data Collection in Zimbabwe

Despite its importance, collecting accurate GBV data in Zimbabwe is fraught with challenges. These barriers must be addressed to ensure a data-driven response that truly protects survivors and prevents further violence.

1. Barriers to Reporting GBV Cases

Many GBV cases go unreported due to fear of retaliation, stigma and lack of trust in authorities. Survivors often worry about being blamed or not taken seriously, leading to underreporting that skews national statistics.

2. Limited Knowledge and Understanding of GBV

A significant portion of the population, including some service providers, lacks a deep understanding of GBV, its various forms and its impact. Many cases, such as economic abuse or marital rape, may not even be recognized as violence, resulting in an incomplete picture of the problem.

3. Cultural Practices That Normalize GBV

Traditional norms and customs often perpetuate the idea that GBV is a private or acceptable matter. In some communities, practices like child marriage or wife-beating are normalized, making it difficult for survivors to come forward and for authorities to document cases accurately.

4. Lack of Expertise Among Service Providers

Police officers, healthcare workers and social service providers are often the first point of contact for GBV survivors, yet many lack the necessary training in trauma-informed data collection. Poor documentation, insensitive questioning or a lack of standardized reporting systems can lead to data gaps and inconsistencies.

5. Inadequate Coordination Among Stakeholders

GBV data collection involves multiple institutions, but without proper coordination, duplication, inconsistencies and lost information are common. A survivor might report abuse to the police but not seek healthcare services, resulting in fragmented records that fail to present a full picture of the issue.

6. Weak Data Management Systems

Many service providers still rely on paper-based reporting or outdated digital systems, making it difficult to track cases, ensure data security or analyze trends effectively. Without modernized data governance structures, efforts to strengthen GBV responses remain hampered.

Strengthening GBV Data Governance in Zimbabwe

Addressing these barriers requires a multi-pronged approach involving policy reforms, capacity-building initiatives, and public awareness campaigns.

●      Improving Survivor Support Systems: Encouraging survivors to report abuse by ensuring their safety, privacy and access to justice can significantly improve data accuracy.

●      Training Service Providers: Equipping police, healthcare workers and social workers with skills in ethical, survivor-centered data collection can enhance reporting quality.

●      Promoting Public Awareness: Educational campaigns can help communities recognize GBV in all its forms, reducing stigma and increasing reporting rates.

●      Enhancing Digital Data Management: Investing in centralized and secure digital systems will enable real-time tracking of GBV cases, improving coordination between stakeholders.

●      Strengthening Interagency Collaboration: Regular data-sharing meetings between the police, judiciary, healthcare providers and social services can create a more cohesive and accurate national GBV database.

Accurate GBV data is a powerful tool in the fight against gender-based violence in Zimbabwe. It informs policies, improves service delivery, and amplifies the voices of survivors. While significant challenges exist, ongoing efforts to improve data governance and management are steps in the right direction.

Call to Action

At Bertha’s Legacy, we believe that accurate data is the foundation of effective GBV intervention. Without reliable statistics, survivors remain invisible, resources are misallocated and the cycle of violence continues. That’s why we are committed to working with key stakeholders, from law enforcement and healthcare providers to policymakers and grassroots organizations, to strengthen GBV data collection, governance and response mechanisms.

We stand ready to collaborate, support and advocate for survivor-centered, data-driven interventions that not only document the reality of GBV but also empower survivors with real solutions. If you are an organization, policymaker or service provider dedicated to improving GBV response in Zimbabwe, let’s work together to build a future where every survivor is seen, heard and supported.