MPs push for specialised GBV courts and district-level legal aid services
Nqobizwe Thebe
In a debate held on 8 July 2025, Members of Parliament (MPs) in Zimbabwe called for the establishment of dedicated Gender-Based Violence (GBV) courts and the decentralisation of legal aid services to district level to improve support for survivors of GBV.
The debate followed the presentation of a report by the Portfolio Committee on Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, which highlighted challenges facing GBV survivors in accessing justice and services. The committee had conducted oversight visits to various GBV support centres, including safe shelters and one-stop service facilities.
MPs noted that while Zimbabwe has legal frameworks in place to protect survivors, accessibility remains a major barrier, especially in remote and rural areas.
“It is my plea and wish if the Government could also establish dedicated GBV courts to speed up case resolution and prevent perpetrators from evading justice,” said Hon. Makuvire during the debate.
She noted that delays in the mainstream court system often frustrate survivors, cause prolonged trauma, and sometimes lead to withdrawal of cases.
Currently, the Legal Aid Directorate (LAD), under the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, is not decentralised to district level. MPs identified this as a key obstacle for survivors needing affordable and timely legal assistance.
“If we have a system with specialised, trained Legal Aid Directorate officers who are equipped to handle GBV matters, it will definitely increase efficiency in the handling of such cases,” Hon. Makuvire added.
MPs also called for the deployment of trained personnel, including legal practitioners and psychosocial support workers, who can respond to the specific needs of GBV survivors using trauma-sensitive approaches.
The committee further reported that existing shelters were under-resourced, lacked transportation, and were not adequately equipped to support survivors with children.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, MPs agreed more must be done to ensure accessible and survivor-centred justice delivery.
Lawmakers urged the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Women Affairs to prioritise the rollout of specialised GBV courts and the expansion of legal aid services in the 2026 national budget.
Speaker of Parliament Hon. Jacob Mudenda supported the recommendations and encouraged collaboration with law faculties and the Law Society of Zimbabwe to improve service delivery.
There was consensus among MPs that combating gender-based violence requires not only policies, but practical, well-resourced interventions at all levels of the justice system.
The committee’s recommendations are expected to inform government programming and possible legislative changes in the months ahead.
