By Grace Kwinjeh| The problem in our society is the selective application of human rights standards, especially as they concern the abuse and violence against women in the mainstream opposition party MDC Alliance.

As we commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender based violence, running under the theme, “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!” , it is important to remind one another that we are dealing with all forms of violence not just the safe, feel good ones.

As I write the silence is too loud not to notice, in response to the violence suffered by female opposition politicians, last Wednesday, when party leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa, was giving his Hope of the Nation Address.

Never mind that even within the party, females are still fighting for their space and voice, the lack of a clear national agenda to protect them from state sponsored violence, presents a double jeopardy.

Among those attacked during the siege when the police violently dispersed MDC Alliance members from the party’s headquarters, was Mbare Ward 3 councillor Chigasango, whose bloodied images would soon hit and go viral on social media platforms.

Chigasango is another nameless unknown woman whose public profile is not complete, in a quick social media scan, all we know is she was attacked, was taken to hospital and that is it. First name missing and that speaks volumes too. But, she is counted among the many female politicians who daily suffer violence in silence, soon their faces and stories are forgotten.

Now had any of the prominent MDC Alliance male politicians been attacked, Lord have mercy it would have been a different story.

You can’t help but notice a certain misogynistic response to violence.

Whose life and story is more important than the other?

Consequently, the silence by feminist sisters or those heading the country’s NGOs is that the beast called state terror is not selective, any of them are easy targets, any other woman with no political affiliation gets targeted.

A challenge for them to step into spaces to those in power and be a voice of the voiceless, our common humanity calls for that. It is only moral and just to feel disgusted at any form of violence.

We also read the report of a woman who was going about her business, not a member of the MDC, who was also caught up in the cross fire.

The bottom line is not one person deserves to be a victim of any form of violence, especially to be punished for making political choices that go against the status quo.

Leading gender activists for fear of rocking the boat become complicit in state sponsored tyranny, by their silence, which can easily be taken as an endorsement of the crimes against humanity. Safe spaces means, they will only scream and shout when it comes to certain forms of rape, but not political, scream about some forms of violence but not political.

Three leading women’s rights activists are currently facing trumped up charges of plotting to overthrow the state, which is treasonous, this has seen them spend days behind bars, denied justice and now at the mercy of the country’s questionable justice system.

The three ladies, Stabile Dewa, Rita Nyamupinga and Farirai Gumbonzvanda have faced judicial harassment since they were arrested at the Robert Mugabe International Airport, early August. Solidarity from fellow sisters has been missing of minimal.

The next 16 days are therefore important for an honest reflection on the negative impact violence has had on our community, the hurting and trauma do not help in productivity or foster investor confidence either.

The culture of impunity must be replaced by accountability, that helps in the healing of those affected.

May we stand reminded that activists who in 1991 at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute initiated the 16 Days campaign were not selective but rather sought to deal with all forms of violence.

The theme this year focuses on rape, we have numerous cases of women who have reported rape cases during state sponsored violent attacks, cases have never been fully investigated, victims given access to justice and other forms of reprieve. The reverse has instead occurred where they have been victimised into silence.

Let’s move from annual gestures, symbolism into action, otherwise the days mean nothing for Zimbabwean women.