Management Model to Reduce Gender Based Violence in Zambia: Case of Mbala District

This study looked at the management model to reduce gender based violence in Zambia: Case  of Mbala District in Northern Province of Zambia. The study assessed the effectiveness in terms of prevention, reduction and the rate of prosecution of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) cases. It also stressed on the co-operation the Zambia Police Service Victim Support Unit (ZPS VSU) received from the community as whistleblowers to reduce SGBV. Finally, the study sought to investigate how traditional leaders understood victimology and what should be done to enhance victim support services in Mbala. The sample size was 100 respondents which included 20 respondents from the general public comprising victims/survivors of GBV, 30 respondents were police officers and another 05 were from the Department of Social Welfare, 05 from the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) namely, YWCA, 10 medical personnel operating from the One Stop Center and 15 each drawn from Chief Zombe and Chief Mfwambo of Mbala District. This study was conducted through mixed research design. Meanwhile, Secondary data was collected for the background information and literature review. Primary data was collected by conducting structured and unstructured interview schedules using questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed using statistical tables and figures, while Qualitative data was analyzed manually in form of explanations, descriptions and interpretations of data collected. The study revealed that most respondents from the general public and police regardless of their age, gender, education level and occupation perceived negatively the co-operation the police in Mbala was receiving from the community. However, it was revealed that majority of the respondents stated that the police was capable of reducing cases of GBV. In view of the study findings, it was recommended that funding be made available to economically empower the survivors of GBV and that traditional leaders be sensitised to spearhead the fight against GBV. Overall, the study has revealed that there are several shortcomings that adversely affect the victim support services in the district among them lack of transport for the VSU and also lack of a safe house to accommodate the victims who run away from perpetrators of violence for safety.