Salima chiefs happy with primary justice initiative

Chiefs in Salima, a lake district in Malawi, say primary justice initiative Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) is implementing has helped decrease crime rate and gender-based violence in the district.

Speaking yesterday during a meeting organised to map the way forward for the primary justice initiative as it phases out this month, group village head Chakwawa said besides decreasing  crime rate and gender-based violence, primary justice has also helped to unite communities, police and non -governmental organisations on justice related issues.

“The initiative has taught us how to handle conflicts and misunderstandings at village level, hence reducing congestion of crime cases in various police stations” he said.

Salima assistant social welfare officer Alexious Makatha promised to work with village tribunals, community-based educators and other stakeholders to maintain the project’s sustainability.

“Most of the cases were being handled by informal sectors which were not trained and primary justice programme equipped some village tribunals to minimise the gap between formal and informal sectors,” he said.

“Let me commend Women’s Legal Resource Centre, Salima Police, chiefs and all the stakeholders who have promised to continue with the initiative.”

Primary justice programme which is being funded by Department for International Development (DfID) has targeted six traditional authorities including Maganga, Khombedza, Kalonga and Mwanza. n