Pandemic Within A Pandemic Genderbased Violence Experiences Of Women In Marondera Urban (2020- 2021), Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe

This article is a pilot study that is part of broader research on genderbased violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 pandemic in theMarondera Urban District. Women in Marondera Urban have been onthe receiving end of GBV from time immemorial. However, theproblem appears to have increased during the COVID-19-inducedlockdown in Marondera from April 2020 to February 2021. Physical,social, sexual and economic abuse were the most common forms ofviolence in Marondera urban. Using the Broken Windows Theory, thisstudy is premised on the sad reality that GBV continues unabated inthe 21st century with the pandemic worsening the situation. This is aqualitative 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 wasalready high, however, the situation further deteriorated during theCOVID-19-induced lockdowns as couples were confined at home mostof the time.