THE old proverb "lebitla la mosadi ke bogadi" has been fingered as the biggest contributor to the increase in women abuse.
The proverb means a woman's grave is at her husband's home.
With February being dubbed the month of love, the Isa Mathivha Foundation launched a gender-based violence (GBV) seminar and a male junction programme in Tshimbupfe Village in Limpopo, on Saturday, 17 February.
The event attracted scores of attendees, both young and old including pastors, and representatives from universities such as the University of Venda and the University of Pretoria, in partnership with the Ubuntu Nursing Community Model led by Professor Mavis Mulaudzi.
During the event, it was reported that numerous old proverbs used in premarital counseling pressure women to endure abusive marriages or relationships.
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These proverbs, intended as language tools to convey the value of marriage and encourage women to stay committed, are now being questioned for their potential negative impact.
Gogo Florah Mpuma (64) told Daily Sun that another proverb, "vhuhadzi ndi nama ya tholo", which translates to marriage is the last home of women, also contributes to GBV.
She recalled that in the past, women were advised with the proverb, "musadzi u fara lufhanga nga vhuhali", which means women hold a knife with power, to stay strong even in challenging marriages.
“However, in today's context, where violence against women is prevalent, promoting endurance in abusive situations is no longer deemed appropriate,” she said.
Madala Gorge Mudziri (76) slammed GBV but disputed the belief that the proverbs directly contributed to the abuse of women.
Professor Salaminah Moloko-Phiri, a representative of the North West University (NWU) School of Nursing, acknowledged the historical use of proverbs to empower women.
“But we caution the proverbs against their potential to make women feel voiceless and less important in modern society,” she said.
Rape survivor Ruth Mutsila, founder of Ruth's Conversations Foundation, shared her harrowing experiences during the event.
“I was gang-raped and emotionally abused, leading to hospitalisation due to stress and depression. That made me establish a foundation with the aim to help other women, as I also reported the incident after 17 years,” she said.
Munna Ndi Nyi Men's Forum chairman, Bardwell Mufunwaini, condemned the escalating abuse of women and children, emphasising the need for real men in society to protect, rather than harm them.
Pfarelo Mathivha, director and social worker at Isa Mathivha Foundation, expressed the foundation's commitment to finding solutions to pressing GBV issues.
“The event also marked the initiation of a men's program aimed at mitigating gbv,” she said.
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