PANDEMIC WITHIN A PANDEMIC: GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN IN MARONDERA URBAN (20202021), MASHONALAND EAST, ZIMBABWE

Abstract

This article is a pilot study that is part of broader research on gender based violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Marondera Urban District. Women in Marondera Urban have been on the receiving end of GBV from time immemorial. However, the problem appears to have increased during the COVID-19-induced lockdown in Marondera from April 2020 to February 2021. Physical, social, sexual and economic abuse were the most common forms of violence in Marondera urban. Using the Broken Windows Theory, this study is premised on the sad reality that GBV continues unabated in the 21st century with the pandemic worsening the situation. This is a qualitative study where eight participants were purposively selected. Face to-face interviews were conducted with the eight participants. The findings indicated that before the COVID-19 pandemic, GBV was already high, however, the situation further deteriorated during the COVID-19-induced lockdowns as couples were confined at home most of the time.