People urged to report gender-based violence

Karonga Police Station crime prevention desk officer Brian Kandaya has urged community members from Paramount Chief Kyungu’s area in Karonga District to report gender-based violence (GBV) cases to relevant authorities.

He made the call on Monday at Mwenilondo during a GBV advocacy meeting organised by the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM).

Kandaya said he noted that many gender-based violence victims were suffering in silence.

“However, failure to report GBV to relevant authorities may not help efforts to eradicate the vice, which has led to early marriages among girls,” he said.

Kandaya also encouraged community members to report human trafficking to police.

Mwangolera Community Victim Support Unit chairperson Fiskani Sapawo asked stakeholders to provide bicycles to volunteers to ease their mobility challenges when following up GBV cases.

“We are making progress in the fight against gender-based violence. However, when we receive complaints from remote areas, we fail to follow up the cases due to mobility challenges,” she said.

Sapawo also said with bicycles, they will intensify awareness campaigns on rape and defilement cases in the area.

One of the community members, Caroline Mayuni, said GBV victims suffer in silence because of stigma.

“However, we have learned that reporting gender-based violence cases will help to bring perpetrators to book,” she said.

Karonga district assistant social welfare officer Katoto Kamwela urged community leaders to formulate by-laws to protect girls and women.

“People should also know the structures where to report GBV cases,” he said.

Karonga district EAM Timazge Nkhaza Project officer Wandiya Chigawa said her office will look into the request to provide bicycles to the volunteers.

Evangelical Association of Malawi is implementing Timazge Nkhaza Project in the area with funding from the Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurch Aid.

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati is on record having said that in recent times, more people are reporting about GBV cases.