Are we gender blind?
Fellow Malawians, the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence commenced Monday—a day after a girl aged 14 or so was raped at Evison Matafale’s memorial concert in Chileka, Blantyre.
Defiling the fallen reggae star’s legacy of equal rights and justice, rape is a beastly attack on women’s rights and dignity. It objectifies them, condemning them to sexually transmitted infections, trauma and low self-esteem.
Ironically, the Chileka incident was buried in an entertainment article amid global headlines of a student gang-raped on a coach in India.
Are we gender-blind? What is entertaining about a girl the age of Matafale’s daughter being raped as police sleep on duty?
The legend’s Black Missionaries Band was supposed to condemn the lawlessness and demand justice for the victim.
Their silence has made the memorial a 12-year-old tragedy: lives lost through drunk driving, minors abusing alcohol, pretentious Rastafarians smoking chamba (an illegal substance) under police watch and thugs abusing female fun-seekers.
However, the sexual attacks at the event graced by Minister of Tourism and Culture Moses Kunkuyu and his armed security could be symptomatic of the numerous reasons females shun live shows.
The Blacks should let the free-for-all memorial mature into a properly organised pay event at a secure venue where even women can express their love for Matafale without fear of abuse.
First-timer Kunkuyu rightly bills the crowd-pulling event deserving of government support. Not yet. The uncurbed lawlessness in Matafale’s name thuggishly breaks the country’s laws and international obligations to safeguard women from any form of violence.
For sure, those who really love Matafale can afford a modest entry fee, for music should not rain free of charge even to rapists.
The amount can help close security gaps and benefit the needy as the Blacks did unto Karonga Earthquake victims in 2009. It can also help boost the livelihood of Matafale’s aged mother and school-going daughter—for charity begins at home!
Otherwise, it is disgusting in any civilised society for girls to be mobbed with rapists as merry multitudes and pitiless police watch.
Failure to bring the culprits to book makes the unfolding days of activism a mere talk show.
