Abstract
This chapter evaluates the Zimbabwe Council of Churches’ (ZCC) peacebuilding programme and its impact on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). In doing this intersectionality study, our chapter aims to find out how the peacebuilding programme promoted by the ZCC is life affirming to women, with particular focus on how the programme helps to address SGBV. Utilizing Lederach’s conflict transformation theory as well as Burton’s human needs theory, the chapter explores how peacebuilding can be implemented as a resource for healing the inner wounds for the survivors of SGBV in Zimbabwe. It also suggests that in order for peacebuilding initiatives to be effectively life transforming, the component of mental health needs to be addressed as well. In this light, our chapter proffers that the church, through initiatives such as the ZCC peacebuilding programmes, should provide a safe space for women to actively participate in rebuilding the broken minds and hearts affected by SGBV. Drawing insights from African Women’s Theology, the crux of our argument is that there cannot be any meaningful development in Zimbabwe in the absence of sustainable peace. Similarly, we contend that a context that is riddled with SGBV will continue to be bereft of lasting peace and holistic development.
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Notes
- 1.
We have put this in quotation marks because the term “victim” negatively connotes the lived experience of those who go through violence. Instead, we will subsequently use the term “survivors” throughout the discussion in this chapter.
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Maseko, L.P., Chirongoma, S. (2023). Gender, Religion, Peacebuilding, and Development in Zimbabwe. In: Kilonzo, S.M., Chitando, E., Tarusarira, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Religion, Peacebuilding, and Development in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36829-5_35
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