Lilongwe Police date female chiefs on GBV

Lilongwe Police Station has challenged female traditional leaders and chiefs’ wives under Traditional Authority  (T/A) M’bwatalika to take a leading role in ending child marriages and gender-based violence (GBV) cases.

Speaking on Tuesday at T/A M’bwatalika headquarters, Lilongwe Police Station community policing officer Gertrude Chinjati said it was sad GBV cases were still prevalent in society despite police raising awareness on the vice.

“As female traditional leaders, they are duty-bound to stop all this. They should denounce the vice in strongest terms and take action against perpetrators,” she said.

Chinjati warned that it is a crime for parents to marry off their children or send them into sex work to earn a living.

She also appealed to women not to deny their husbands conjugal rights, saying it is part of GBV.

On his part, Lilongwe Police Station child protection officer Tadzerakufa Mthyothyo said it was the responsibility of traditional leaders and parents to protect the girl-child from sexual abuse.

He also appealed to parents to monitor their children who are staying at home since the closure of schools on March 23 due to Covid-19.

Group village head Chiwere commended the police for the visit.

She encouraged her fellow traditional leaders to take the message seriously and start fostering change in M’bwatalika.