Women in Mchinji team up to fight GBV

Women in Traditional Authority (T/A) Pitala in Mchinji have intensified the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) among women and girls in the district.

Through mother groups, the women engage parents and community members on early marriages, defilement, rape and other forms of violence against them and girls.

Speaking on Saturday at Chififi in the area during a gender open day, T/A Pitala said she encouraged women to create the mother groups to address issues affecting women and girls.

She said: “The mother groups are terminating child marriages and sending the girls back to school.

“Again, many gender-based violence victims are able to report to relevant authorities.”

Pitala urged them to realise that the vice does not affect women only, but also men, saying some of them are forced to commit suicide because of GBV.

Mchinji North legislator Rachael Mazombwe Zulu (Malawi Congress Party) asked women to work together to win the battle against the vice.

“I am pleased that women have teamed up to fight gender-based violence in the area. If they continue working together, more women will be empowered to report the vice,” she said.

Zulu commended T/A Pitala for leading the fight against gender-based violence in the area.

Mchinji district gender officer Mariana Kanjirawaya urged parents who marry off their children to stop the tendency and send them to school.

“Parents should not marry off their children. It is the duty of parents to ensure that their children attend school and marry at the right age,” she said.

Kanjirawaya urged other traditional leaders in the district to emulate what T/A Pitala is doing for Mchinji to win the battle against gender-based violence.