FOR a long time now, gender based violence, especially that inflicted on women and girls has been accepted as normal in our society.

It is widely believed that there is nothing wrong for a man to beat up his wife in a home because the man is the head of the house.

As a result of such beliefs, gender-based violence on vulnerable groups like women and young girls has gone unchecked.

However, such violence has led to misery among the women and the girls who more often than not live in fear in their own homes.

These same vulnerable groups are the anchors of national development and subjecting them to gender violence leads to holding back national growth.

It is therefore, good that civil society, Government and other stakeholders are now coming out clear to define gender violence as a serious crime that needs to be checked at all times.

They have now realised that gender-based violence is not something that should be accepted as normal by society.

It is equally good and gratifying that the Government has shown political will the at highest level to address gender-based violence.

By talking against gender-based violence yesterday, President Rupiah Banda committed his administration to ensuring that this problem is addressed.

It is therefore incumbent upon stakeholders to work as a team and come up with proper laws to ensure that gender-based violence is nipped in the bud.

Much as the violence should be fought at home level, it is also important that institutions such as prisons are assisted to ensure that there is no violence on both male and female inmates.

Authorities in prisons should not abuse the inmates, especially the males by subjecting them to practices such as lashings because of their gender, which is another worst form of violence.

At least with political will shown at the highest level, Zambia can now be in the forefront in ensuring that gender-based violence becomes a serious offence for the perpetrators.