The government has called for stronger collaboration among communities, religious leaders, traditional authorities and law enforcement agencies to curb gender-based violence (GBV), saying collective action is essential to protecting women, children and other vulnerable groups.
Speaking at a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Forum held at the NSSF Hall in Kigoma, Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Eng Maryprisca Mahundi, said eliminating GBV requires a coordinated response that extends beyond government institutions.
She urged communities to reject the culture of silence surrounding abuse, stressing that reporting incidents promptly would help authorities bring perpetrators to justice while preventing further harm to victims.
"Gender-based violence is neither normal nor part of our culture. No tradition, custom or circumstance can justify abusing, humiliating or denying another person their fundamental rights. Communities should stop concealing such incidents and report them to the relevant authorities," she said.
Mahundi said the government would continue investing in public awareness campaigns on the causes and consequences of GBV while strengthening services for survivors.
She also called on parents and guardians to promote positive parenting and encouraged religious and traditional leaders to use their platforms to challenge harmful social norms and advocate for the protection of vulnerable groups.
She reaffirmed the government's commitment to enforcing the law against perpetrators of gender-based violence.
"Anyone found responsible for these offences will face legal action. We will continue monitoring reported cases closely because our goal is to build a society founded on respect for human dignity and equal rights," she said.
The deputy minister noted that while legal sanctions remain important, lasting progress will depend on changing attitudes within families and communities, where many cases of violence originate or go unreported.
Kigoma District Commissioner Rashid Chuachua said gender-based violence continues to pose a serious challenge in the district, with women and children accounting for the majority of reported cases.
He said religious leaders, the Police Gender and Children's Desk and social welfare officers have been instrumental in raising public awareness, supporting survivors and helping victims access justice.
"Many of these cases are brought to my office, and they are deeply concerning. That is why we must continue speaking openly about gender-based violence and strengthen community efforts to prevent it," Dr Chuachua said.
He commended frontline institutions and community leaders for their continued efforts, saying sustained public education, early reporting and stronger cooperation among stakeholders would be crucial in reducing gender-based violence and safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of vulnerable members of society.
