By Flata Kavinga
Male Voice Foundation (MVF) Secretary for Administration, Hector Kabunu, says the organisation is working to ensure men have the same access to justice and support as women in harassment cases, in a bid to foster a more inclusive conversation around gender-based abuse.
Speaking on the sidelines of the foundation’s Trainer of Trainers (TOT) workshop held at Amaveni High School in Kwekwe, Kabunu said the organisation focuses on addressing challenges faced by men, including emotional and psychological manipulation, false accusations, physical and sexual harassment, workplace harassment, and the stigma associated with male victimhood.
“As Male Voice Foundation, we have a structured approach to these problems — raising awareness, creating safe spaces for men, providing legal and emotional support, and advocating for fair legal protections,” he said.
Kabunu noted that while progress has been made, men continue to underreport cases of abuse due to societal expectations and gender norms that discourage them from speaking out.
“Men face societal pressures that make it hard to express vulnerability. Lack of support structures also remains a major challenge,” he said.
He added that the Trainer of Trainers programme was designed to build capacity among members so they can reach grassroots communities across the country.
“Today we held our Trainer of Trainers workshop in Kwekwe at Amaveni High, where we gathered more than 200 participants from across the Midlands Province, including Gokwe North,” Kabunu said. “We have already held similar workshops in Manicaland, and the foundation has grown to more than a thousand members across several provinces, including Midlands, Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Masvingo.”
He said the foundation’s structures extend down to village level to ensure men at the grassroots have access to information, support and advocacy platforms.
“To Zimbabwean citizens, I encourage you to join Male Voice Foundation and its initiatives so that we can reach out to the lost male, the lost boys, and those who are struggling to express themselves,” Kabunu said.
The Male Voice Foundation advocates for a balanced and inclusive approach to gender-based violence, promoting both male and female perspectives in the fight against abuse.
