Breaking the silence: combating gender-based violence in rural Tanzania

Dar es SalaamIn the quiet corners of rural Tanzania, where sunsets paint the sky in hues of orange and red, there is a silent struggle that many women face but rarely talk about.

Instead, they get used to it and accept it as a part of life. Behind closed doors, away from prying eyes, they endure a reality that no one should have to experience.

This is the harsh reality of gender-based violence, a pervasive problem that plagues our society, lurking in the shadows of normalcy.

According to UNICEF, 38 percent of girls and women have experienced some form of violence from a partner in the past year.

Shockingly, a third of those who experienced violence never sought help; 11 percent told someone but did not seek help, and only 54 percent sought help about the violence they experienced.

Ghati Marwa, 29, a resident of Tarime, says that after she got married to her husband in 2016, he started beating her occasionally, but she just thought it was part of the difficulties of marriage.

“I used to suffer the abuse in silence, thinking that it was my destiny and speaking out would only bring more harm instead of solving the problem. Even my mother advised me not to tell anyone about such a problem, which I accepted,” she shares.

She adds: “In our society, it is not normal for a woman to say openly what her husband did to her last night. We have been taught to keep silent and not to talk about our husband’s weaknesses.”

For her part, Nyandaro Mkama, 38, a resident of Chumwi, in the Musoma rural district of the Mara region, says her dreams have been shattered by the abuse without even opening her mouth to reveal what is happening in her life .

“For years (since 2021), I suffered in silence, afraid to speak out and face the consequences. But staying silent only allowed the abuse to continue. For now, I’m just thinking about reporting it to the Gender Desk so that other steps can follow, but if he stops this perverse behavior, I will change my mind,” she confides, her voice trembling with emotion.

With similar feelings of pain and resilience, reveals Neema Philimon, 46, a resident of Mbogwe district in Geita. “I never used to report these incidents, fearing negative reactions and stigmatization from my community. It became a part of my daily life and I convinced myself that I had to endure it,” says she said.

She continues: “It took me a long time to understand that remaining silent only perpetuated the cycle of abuse, as I listened to experts explain the consequences of silence and acceptance of violence in programs of radio. Now I refuse to stay silent any longer,” admits Neema.

She adds: “For too long I have suffered in silence, but now I refuse to let fear dictate my life.”

Yunisi Kiraryo, 34, a resident of Tarime, reveals that she once thought that keeping quiet while finding a solution was the best option.

“I now understand the importance of speaking out and asking for help, because he already broke my left leg. I know that if I had reported him earlier, it wouldn’t have reached this level.”

These stories paint a grim picture of the reality faced by many women in Tanzania, particularly in rural areas. Behind the veil of tradition and cultural norms lies a dark truth that must be brought to light.

Ms Maimuna Munanka, the Gender Desk Officer at Musoma Rural District Council, says the gender desks have helped different women by educating them so that they know the importance of speaking out about GBV incidents.

“Our goal is to break the cycle of violence and empower survivors to take back control of their lives, but it is difficult to achieve this if victims hide from the perpetrators and choose suffering over their well-being. More efforts in education on GBV are still needed, especially in rural areas,” she said.

She continues: “Through counseling, legal support and community outreach, we work to create a safe space for survivors to heal and seek justice. »

A psychologist from Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Father Leons Maziku, reveals that the normalisation of gender-based violence perpetuates a cycle of trauma and silence.

“Victims internalize the belief that speaking out will only lead to more harm, leading to feelings of helplessness and isolation,” she says.

She continues: “This silence becomes a barrier to healing, as survivors are deprived of the support and validation they need to begin their healing journey. Without intervention, the psychological scars of abuse can last a lifetime, affecting every aspect of a survivor’s well-being. »

On the other hand, Mr. Elisha Elibariki, sociologist and lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (Udsm), says victims normalize violence instead of reporting it to mark an end to it.

“It seems to be a legacy for a woman to remain silent in such situations, and they are even trained by their elders to do so before they get married, which makes them think and feel that it is appropriate to remain silent rather than shouting ‘save me’,” he said.

He explains that women need to be educated so that, by speaking out and seeking help, survivors can take back their power and break free from the cycle of violence.

“It is essential to create a supportive environment where survivors feel empowered to share their stories and access the support they deserve,” he says.

Minister of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Doroth Gwajima, said people should break the silence and report perpetrators of GBV incidents, to support the country in its war against GBV .

“People of both sexes should not keep violence as a secret in marriage because of the impact it has on society. Reporting violent incidents helps the government and the judiciary take appropriate measures to reduce and eradicate gender-based violence in our country,” she explains.

The story was written with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.