Alcohol leads in causing domestic violence

There are links between alcohol and the occurrence of intimate partner violence. Evidence shows that alcohol use increases occurrence and severity of domestic abuse in most rural areas of the country. Surveys in most of rural Eastern Province, have it that domestic violence routinely identifies consumption of alcohol by men who perpetrate physical abuse. In Ndego sector, Kayonza, victims of domestic violence believe that their partners drink alcohol prior to committing a physical assault in most cases. In rural Kirehe, Ngoma, Gatsibo, Bugesera and Rwamagana districts domestic violence cases stem from alcohol abuse. Official reports have it that women experience physical abuse at the hands of their drunken spouse Jacqueline Mukandayisenga, a mother of six living in Ndego sector complains that her husband beats her and threatens her with death whenever he is drunk. “If it was not for the anti-gender violence campaign in our villages, most women would not be living with their husbands. They used to drink too much and step on us…the situation was becoming intolerable. Of course, there are still some victims of alcohol influenced violence against women.” Men are victims tooAlthough there are no recorded statistics, men are also victims of domestic violence at the hands of their intoxicated wives. Families have witnessed many numerous occasions, wives hitting and kicking the husband, and even killing after drinking alcohol. David Kirenga, 47, a resident of Rutonde sector in Rwamagana district laments that men have been silent victims of women. “Women often drink themselves silly whenever they want to go violent against their husbands. A recent case in Munyaga sector, when a man was recently battered to death by his wife, confirms my concern...it’s terrible especially because society expects men to be always the culprits,” he says. Beer brewing is one of the major economic activities in most rural areas that are embedded in people’s culture. It cannot thus be done away with. The female dominated activity comes to its height, when there are enough yields especially of its main ingredients; sorghum, millet, bananas and sorghum. The beer drinking is vital as far as maintaining social relationships are concerned. Beer has played significant roles in the reciprocal exchanges. “You cannot propose marriage for your son in any family without carrying beer and vice versa. It enables respected men to seat down and ponder issues affecting communities. A real man is expected to drink and remain stable...it is a crime to drink yourself silly, it belittles the essence of typical traditional values,” says John Kamugudu, 63, a rural opinion leader in Gstibo district. It is unbelievable but true that in some villages, beer drinking is used as a payment for labour activities during peak agriculture periods such as bush clearing, land preparations and harvesting. “There used to be muscle stretching among healthy men in traditional Rwanda...so most of what we call violence is a compensation of the physical games like wrestling. Domestic violence too, is a result of lost values and norms that guarded traditional marriage in communities,” says Jean Damascene Rwasamirira, a Rwanda historian. Therefore, the general misconception that life in villages is difficult, very violent and boring, is entirely wrong. Today, most rural dwellers produce enough food to feed their families, and raise a little extra money to send children to school, and to pay for basic health insurance fee. So, despite historical evidence of poverty in rural villages, there is gross optimism among the people that things are slowly changing for the better. Thus as the old adage goes; ‘life is what you make it’, rural dwellers have got their own way of life that they cherish so much. They will tell you that they maximise enjoyment, between the months of June and September when there are no rains, but plenty of food and locally brewed beer. Whenever rural people have got enough food in their homes, and it is a dry period when agriculture activities are limited, they either drink or go to church. It is on record that every small function is accompanied by maize feasting; this is done as a sign of friendship amongst individuals or communiti. Just as a city dweller would think of a discotheque or moving to a cinema hall when deep pockets allow one week-ends, rural people would either go to church or pay a visit to a renowned brewer nearest to him or her. It is here that they sing and dance all night, just like those in urban areas do. The environmental difference doesn’t matter, since the definition of convenience is relative. mugitoni@yahoo.com