Long distances fuel GBV in Mangochi

Long distances to police and courts for redress are helping to fuel gender-based violence (GBV) in most villages in Malawi, a local organisation has said.
Youth Net and Counselling Organisation (Yoneco) made the observation recently during interface meetings with people from Traditional Authorities (T/As) Bwananyambi and Chowe in Mangochi; and in Ngokwe and Nyambi in Machinga.

 
During the meetings, it was revealed that most people living in the remotest villages of the two districts have high rates of child marriages and economic abuses against women due to long distances from homes to courts and police for the victims to report their ordeals.
For instance, communities from T/As Ngokwe and Chowe need to travel almost 42 kilometres to reach Nselema and Mangochi police and courts respectively.
According to Group Village Head Dindi of Machinga, women and girls in his area suffer silently because they are not protected.

 
“It is difficult for us to raise enough money for transport to travel to reach courts and police. As such, we just charge chickens or goats to the perpetrators. This [weak punishment] encourages the perpetrators to continue defiling and abusing children and women,” he said.
The chief said the dream of having a GBV-free society will remain far-fetched if their long distance problem remains unaddressed.

 
Third grade magistrate Luckison Beni of Nselema Court conceded that distance is a problem, but asked the communities to still report their cases regardless.
“For the time being bring the defilers to court as we sort out the distance issue. We will be attending to your issues first and charge the offenders accordingly to deter them from committing same offences,” he said.
Yoneco’s anti-GBV facilitator Rodrick Sinoya advised the communities to remain vigilant against GBV.