Improved energy access in rural areas pivotal in curbing GBV and early child marriages

In renewed efforts to curb abuse against the girl child and early child marriages, Power Giants Transmission Director, Engineer Edzai Kachirekwa, has reasserted his commitment to the cause stating that his organization will double efforts to power rural communities in order to enhance awareness and reporting mechanisms on the scourge.

 Engineer Kachirekwa said improving access to adequate power, energy infrastructure, and technology helps enhance awareness of the vice and improves reporting mechanisms of such abuse as well as treatment and rehabilitation of victims.

Gender-based violence and early child marriages have remained a thorn in the flesh of Zimbabwe, especially in rural areas and apostolic religious sects, hence sterner measures are needed to nip the scourge in the bud.

“As an energy entity, Power Giants strives to ensure that all rural areas have access to clean and reliable power through installing energy infrastructure such as solar-powered systems, transmission power lines, and biodigesters among others, which streamlines rural communities’ access to cheap lighting and cooking solutions, internet, irrigation infrastructure, and hospital facilities,” said Engineer Kachirekwa, who is the brains behind the famous Regai Dzive Shiri project which was themed “Your Child My Child”.

 He added that “As a survivor of child abuse myself, I have taken it upon myself to stand up for the defenseless and I will leave no stone unturned until the scourge is completely eliminated from our society and perpetrators brought to book regardless of their standing in society. The should be no sacred cows.”

Music director and pastor, Carven Gumbanjera, who was part of the Regai Dzive Shiri project, also concurred with Kachirekwa saying more should be done to empower rural communities through improved access to modern energy systems which would lift the burden of poverty from ordinary people.

He also castigated practices entrenching Gender-based violence, calling for reinvigorated tactical approaches in the fight against the scourge, especially in the rural areas where such practices are rampant.

“Early child marriages rob the girl child of academic potential and prospects for a better future. We should be able to self-introspect as a society and look into aspects of our culture and religion fuelling such ill practices. Surely we can’t call ourselves a Christian community when there is so much abuse, injustice, and barbarism taking place right under our noses. We must all make collective efforts to curb the vice,” he said in an interview with this publication.

The Regai Dzive Shiri project cast comprised several music stars including Worshipper Larry Gunda, Anita Jaxson, Suluman Chimbetu, Selmor Mtukudzi, Progress Chipfumo, Michael Mahendere, Mike Mbali and Fungisai Mashavave-Zvakavapano among others.