Gender Group Warns Fuel Hike Could Spike Gender-Based Violence
ZNMNGD urged authorities to factor in the potential negative impacts before adjusting fuel prices, to avoid undermining efforts to tackle rampant gender-based violence nationwide.
LUSAKA, Zambia- The Zambia National Men's Network for Gender and Development (ZNMNGD) has cautioned that the recent fuel price increase could lead to a rise in gender-based violence cases due to escalating economic pressures on households, writes Winston Mwale.
In a statement released Thursday, ZNMNGD National Coordinator Nelson Banda said the high cost of fuel will increase the overall cost of living, straining families' ability to meet daily needs in Zambia's underperforming economy.
"The high cost of fuel has the potential to increase the statistics of gender-based violence as the cost of living is likely to go up, thus stressing families to survive," Banda stated.
He cited examples like families with children who cross cities using public transportation having to spend more on fares and associated costs due to fuel hikes.
ZNMNGD warned that over 40,000 cases of gender-based violence were already reported countrywide by Zambian police. Economic abuse cases rose from 5,000 in 2022 to 7,121 last year.
"Our fear is that these might continue to go up in the wake of the high cost of fuel which is the engine for driving the economy," said Banda.
The group called on the government to consider the fuel increase's implications on the fight against gender-based violence.
It said the higher prices could hamper institutions working to end GBV by making outreach programs more costly.
ZNMNGD urged authorities to factor in the potential negative impacts before adjusting fuel prices, to avoid undermining efforts to tackle rampant gender-based violence nationwide.