Chief formulates by-laws to combat GBV

Traditional Authority (T/A) Khwethemule in Thyolo has formulated by-laws to guide community leaders in the fight against early marriages and gender-based violence (GBV) in the area.

Speaking at an open day in commemoration of 16-Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence recently, Khwethemule said the by-laws prescribe stiff penalties for perpetrators of GBV and families who are marrying off their daughters at tender ages.

The day was organised by Societies Tackling Aids through Rights (Star) Circle with support from the Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation (Creccom).

The chief noted that social and cultural practices are contribution to the proliferation of GBV cases and HIV infections in the country.

Khwethemule said the by-laws have been formulated as one of the measures to abolish practices that violate the rights of women and girls in the area.

He said, among others, a family whose girl-child is married off at a tender age will be fined a goat.

“Should parents fail to re-enrol their girl-children in schools, they will pay a fine of two goats to me; one goat to the group village head and two chickens to the village head from where the parents are coming from,” said Khwethemule.

He hailed Creccom for implementing a project with funding from Swedish Organisation for Individual Relief (Soir) to reduce cases of GBV and school-dropouts in the district.

Star Circle facilitator Mary Chikuti said some harmful cultural practices that have been abolished since the introduction of the by-laws include kusasa fumbi, kulowakufa and chiputu.

Chikuti stressed that the by-laws are critical to the achievement of a GBV-free society.