Community teams up to protect children
Communities in Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga District says they will formulate by-laws to protect children, especially girls from immoral activities taking place along Lake Malawi beaches.
Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with bottle store and rest house owners, Tubapoke Lakeshore Safety and Security matron village head Malema I said girls are subjected to sexual harassment during weekends on the beaches.
He said: “Community leaders have formulated by-laws and engaged people in the hospitality industry along the lake not to entertain under-aged children in their premises.
“If a child patronises the places, their parents will pay a K30 000 fine and the businessperson will have their licence revoked.”
Karonga Police station victim support unit officer Alex Sapuwa commended the community for the initiative.
“Child Protection Care and Protection Justice Act clearly states that every adult, parent, guardian, including those with responsibilities, have roles to see that children are not exposed to harmful and hazardous things,” he said.
Sapuwa said police have a role to ensure that the lake is not a platform for harmful and hazardous stuff such as beer, smoking, sexual activities and other immoral activities.
Karonga third grade magistrate Maria Mkochi Gondwe said the by-laws will complement the country’s laws to protect children.
“The lake is there for several reasons. You may go there to bath, wash or fish. That is no problem. But if you go there for alcohol, drugs or sexual relationships, once caught, you will be punished at community level while those entertaining you in those places will be dealt with by the courts,” she said.
Foundation for Community Support Services project officer Robert Silungwe, whose organisation supports the fight against crime through a Plan Malawi-funded Child Not a Bride Project, commended the traditional leaders for the initiative.
“We have always supported their activities because they are in line with what we are implementing in traditional authorities Wasambo and Kyungu in the district,” he said.
