386 km big walk to end child abuse

The Centre for Children’s Affairs Malawi has organised a 386 kilometre walk from Lilongwe to Blantyre via Zomba to campaign against child marriages.
The organisation, in partnership with some concerned citizens, has planned the big walk after Gender Minister Patricia Kaliati launched the campaign against child marriages in Salima recently.
The organisation’s national coordinator, Moses Devlin Busher, said in an interview they were concerned with increased number of child marriages in the country.
Said Busher: “We are calling for speed action from parents, local leaders, councils, police and the Judiciary to protect girls from early marriages. The nation is doomed if girls are not protected.”
Busher said the big walk, to be launched at Lilongwe Community Ground in presence of officials from government departments and other civil society groups, will start on December 15 and is expected to take 21 days to Blantyre via Zomba.
Along the way, the national coordinator said, they will be addressing people in designated trading centres and other areas, warning them against the dangers of child marriages.
Busher said the participants will present petitions to the District Commissioners (DCs), Commissioners of Police, officer In-charges in police stations and magistrates.
The organisation will be urging the targeted offices to heavily punish perpetrators of violence against women and girls as the nation is also commemorating 16 days of activism against gender violence.
Busher said: “It is disheartening that in this age and era, we have men that are abusing girls by marrying them. Some parents have also contributed to this society decay by marrying off their daughters instead of encouraging them to remain in school.
“We say no to this and this must stop now. We appeal to the communities to report any abuse case to authorities. We have sacrificed our Christmas for this cause. We will be on the road for our girls.”
Notable places for stopovers for addresses include Nanjiri, Nathenje, Chimbiya, Bembeke, Lizulu, Tsangano, Kampepuza, Chimgeni, Chiyendausiku, Liwonde, Domasi, Matawale, Thondwe, Namadzi, Kachere and finally Blantyre City.
The Centre for Children’s Affairs Malawi is appealing to the corporate world and individuals to financially assist towards the big walk.  n