Karonga women hail gender integration in public works

Women from group village head (GVH) Mwentanga in Karonga say integration of gender in public works activities, under Food for Asset (FFA) Project, has reduced finance-related conflicts in the district.

During a gender issues review meeting at GVH Mwantanga on Thursday, a participant, Matilda Mwaungu said women in the area were happy with integration of gender trainings in the FFA project.

She said women working under the project complained that their husbands used to forcibly take their money which led to violence in most households.

“Generally, cases of violence increase during rice harvesting season. Men grab money from their spouses and enjoy in town or marry other women.

“But Comitato Internazionale per lo Svilupo dei popoli [CISP] has helped to sensitise families in our area to gender trainings and importance of doing things together as a family,” she said.

Karonga Police Victim Support Unit child protection officer Steve Bandewande said they previously used to receive about five gender-based violence (GBV) cases a month, resulting from public works money and rice farming proceeds.

GVH Mwentanga said he will ensure that GBV is eradicated even after the project has phased out.

Cisp gender and protection officer Stabene Nyondo said the gender integration in FFA project has helped curb economic related violence which has over time derailed development. n