Female cops warn GBV perpetrators

Central East Region Police Women Welfare group in conjunction with Kasungu Prison Women Welfare have warned perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV) that they will face the law.

The warning comes as Malawi joined the global community  in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV from November 25 to December 10 2023.

Speaking on Wednesday after a parade in Kasungu, Central East Region Commissioner of Police Rhoda Monjolo said the march was part of a three-day Basadi operation conducted in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region under the theme ‘Invest to prevent GBV’.

She said GBV cases were rampant in the region, but victims, especially men, were not reporting the cases.

“Nowadays men are regular victims of GBV in our families, but they tend to pretend as if everything is well for fear of being labelled weak if they report. That is why many of them suffer silently,” said Manjolo.

She also condemned child marriages, saying parents should encourage girls to go to school.

“Children should go to school. This should be clear to everyone. We will not hesitate to arrest anyone found to act otherwise,” said Manjolo.

Kasungu Prison inspector Zione Katapa said engaging communities on GBV will help to reduce crime.

She said: “Our prisons are congested because in one way or the other, some individuals committed crimes out of ignorance. Since ignorance is no defence under the law, we have to keep sensitising communities to the dangers of GBV.”

Kasungu Town block leader Mary Kazombo commended the women law enforcers for the initiative and pledged to with them to fight GBV.

Basadi, which means ‘women’ in Sotho and Tswana languages, is an operation by female police officers across the Sadc region.