FOR years, Anyway Kamuriko suffered in silence.
At just 14 years old, the young woman from Murombedzi in Zvimba found herself trapped in an abusive relationship after falling pregnant.
Today, at 20, she is among a growing number of rural women speaking openly about gender-based violence (GBV), armed with knowledge about their rights and determined to help others to break the cycle of abuse.
“Everything started when I was 14 years old,” she said.
“I was in a relationship with this young man and accidentally got pregnant.
“When I told him, he denied responsibility until my family intervened.
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“Eventually, he agreed that I could go and live with him.”
What followed were years of physical, emotional and economic abuse.
“That is where all hell broke loose. He would beat me almost everyday. Sometimes I slept on the veranda.
“He treated me like a stranger and kept insisting that the baby was not his.
“He never bought food for us to eat and at one point, I was forced to sleep in the kitchen.”
The abuse continued after the birth of their child.
“He was not supporting the child. He would disappear for days and whenever he returned home, he would be drunk and start fights. Eventually, my family urged me to return home and stay with them.”
Today, her son is five years old.
“His father has never supported him in any way.
“He has never sent anything for the child.
“It has been me alone all these years.”
Despite the hardships, Kamuriko refused to allow her circumstances to define her future.
“When I joined ZIMSOFF, I learned about agroecology and received training that empowered me with knowledge and confidence to challenge inequalities while strengthening my participation in food sovereignty initiatives.
“The programme taught me that there are legal avenues to hold him accountable, such as applying for child maintenance.
“The sessions conducted by the ZRP Victim Friendly Unit also taught us how to respond to gender-based violence.”
Her story was one of several powerful testimonies shared during a three-day workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF) in Goromonzi under the theme Peasant and Popular Feminism.
For 55-year-old Stella Honde, the pain began shortly after marriage and lasted for more than a decade.
Honde recounted living with a violent and controlling husband for 15 years, isolated from friends and denied opportunities to improve her life.
“My husband did not want me to have friends and he would not allow me to go to school,” she said.
“No matter what I did, it was never good enough for him.
“He would beat me and threaten to kill me if I told anyone what was happening.”
The constant threats left her living in fear.
“Because I was not allowed to have friends, there was no one I could confide in.
“I was also afraid because he constantly threatened to kill me if I spoke out.”
As the violence escalated, so did her fear.
“It got to a point where I had to sleep in the kitchen because I was afraid.
“My husband would even sleep with an axe under our bed.”
Like many women of her generation, Honde said social norms and lack of information kept her trapped.
“We grew up believing that a married woman should obey her husband regardless of what he did,” she said.
“Because of that understanding and because I did not know what options were available, I continued living with the abuse.”
Her situation changed unexpectedly when her husband’s brother intervened during one of the assaults.
“One day, when he was beating me, his brother stepped in and fought him.
“After that, my husband ran away from home and never returned.”
Today, Honde says the knowledge she gained through ZIMSOFF has transformed her from a survivor to an advocate.
“My husband is now deceased, but the knowledge I gained here has enabled me to educate other women about their rights and encourage them to report abuse.
“Women must know that the law can protect them.”
She expressed gratitude for the training that empowered women to stand up against violence.
“We are now champions in the fight against gender-based violence,” she said.
“We know our rights as women and understand that we should not be subjected to abuse.”
For 41-year-old Cathrine Manyonga from Madera village in Chikwaka ward 12, Goromonzi, the violence she experienced was rooted in betrayal, economic abuse and what she describes as a justice system that failed her.
Manyonga said her challenges began while she was working away from home.
“I had secured employment away from home and regularly sent money to my husband to build our house and invest in a broiler project,” she said.
Unknown to her, the money she worked hard to earn was allegedly being used to support another woman.
“I did not know that whenever I sent money, he would bring his girlfriend to our home and spend it with her.
“Neighbours would call me asking where I was because there were always movements at my house.”
The truth emerged during an unexpected visit.
“One day, I made a surprise visit. The woman had already left, but I found her belongings in the house.
“That is when all hell broke loose. When I confronted my husband, he became violent and started harassing and beating me.”
Seeking justice, Manyonga reported the matter to local traditional leadership.
However, she says her concerns were ignored.
“I reported the woman to the headman, hoping the matter would be resolved, but nothing happened because she was related to him. My complaint was brushed aside and never properly addressed.”
The experience left her disillusioned.
“I realised that corruption and unfair treatment of women still exist,” she said.
“Some issues are not resolved in communities because people are related to each other or have personal connections.”
Years later, Manyonga says she has rebuilt her life.
She credits agroecology and the support she received through ZIMSOFF for helping her to become economically independent.
“I have since separated with my husband and my life is now going on well.
“Being a member of ZIMSOFF has equipped me with agroecological farming skills. I always have enough food to feed my family and I am also able to sell some of my produce.”
The workshop, she said, also taught her important lessons about responding to abuse.
“This training taught me that if a woman experiences gender-based violence, she should not retaliate.
“Instead, she should report the matter to the police because retaliation may create more problems and could even result in her arrest, leaving her children without care.”
Manyonga encouraged women experiencing abuse to seek lawful remedies and work towards financial independence.
“I encourage women to walk away from abusive situations and find ways to improve themselves.
“Women should work, build their own livelihoods and avoid depending entirely on men.
“Report the matter and allow the law to take its course.”
Their stories echoed throughout the workshop, where women from different parts of Zimbabwe gathered to discuss GBV, food sovereignty, women’s land rights and climate justice.
Officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Juru Victim Friendly Unit facilitated discussions on popular feminism and campaigns aimed at ending violence against women and girls.
“Every woman has the right to personal security and protection from violence,” they said.
“We encourage women to report cases of abuse, participate in awareness campaigns and utilise available support services.
“The ZRP offers counselling services and other interventions to assist survivors of gender-based violence.
“Women should also seek protection orders whenever they are subjected to abuse.”
The officers noted that ending violence against women requires collective action from families, communities and institutions.
“Violence against women remains a major challenge in society and there is a need for collective action at family, community and national levels to end all forms of abuse.
“Women must be empowered with information about their rights and the support systems available to them.”
The workshop also explored the relationship between gender equality and food sovereignty, highlighting how women remain central to food production despite facing discrimination and unequal access to resources.
Zimbabwe Land and Agrarian Network representative Fadzai Ruzive said women continued to face barriers that affected their productivity and participation in agriculture.
“Women play a critical role in agriculture and agribusiness, yet many continue to face different forms of violence and discrimination that limit their participation and productivity,” she said.
“Addressing these challenges is essential for sustainable rural development.”
She emphasised that access to land and property rights is critical for women’s economic empowerment and food sovereignty.
“Women must be aware of their legal rights and be empowered to claim and protect them.”
ZIMSOFF programmes officer Patience Shumba said the training was helping women to understand their rights while strengthening their participation in agroecology and food sovereignty initiatives.
“Women are central to food production and community well-being, yet they continue to face various forms of discrimination and exclusion,” Shumba said.
“This training is helping women to understand their rights, build solidarity and strengthen their participation in the struggle for food sovereignty.”
As the workshop concluded, one message stood out clearly: GBV is not only a violation of women’s rights, but also a barrier to food security, economic development and social justice.
Village head Denis Nyamuchengwa said: “I applaud ZIMSOFF and its partners for organising this important training.
“It is a vital initiative that puts women on the map by recognising and strengthening their role in agriculture, community development, and the struggle for social and economic justice.
“Women are the backbone of our rural communities and empowering them means empowering entire families and communities.”
Added Nyamuchengwa: “I encourage all women to continue organising, supporting one another and actively participating in decision-making processes.
“I also urge men and traditional leaders to support women’s empowerment initiatives, as gender equality benefits everyone.
“Creating spaces where women can freely share their experiences, build confidence and advocate for their rights contributes to a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous society.”