Men sleeping with daughters for rituals in Mulanje

Stakeholders working towards promotion of girls’ education in Mulanje have bemoaned the growing tendency by some men who are reportedly sleeping with their biological daughters and step daughters with the belief that they will cast out family spells and or get rich.

The tendency, coupled with lack of motivation to continue with education as most girls that have completed secondary education remain unemployed, is said to be forcing most girls to drop out of school in the district and opt for early marriages.

Speaking at Milonga Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) on Sunday during the commemoration of the international day of the girl child and launch of 16 days of activism against gender based violence, Age Africa country director, Getrude Kabwazi urged stakeholders to join hands in protecting the girl child.

“Our assessment discovered that some men sleep with their daughters believing that they will cast out some spells in their families or that they will get rich. The girls are also threatened that the gods will kill them if they report to authorities and this forces them to suffer in silence,” she said.

Kabwazi noted that most girls who have completed secondary education in the district are unemployed, saying this demotivates some girls to continue with education. She however, said her organisation is encouraging entrepreneurship, rather than just depending on employment.

Senior Chief Nkanda admitted that such practices were prevalent in the district, but said chiefs in the district have instituted by-laws to stop the malpractice.

“These things are happening but the problem is that women who are supposed to protect their daughters, shield their husbands. But the by-laws we have instituted are clear, if we find those shielding each other we will send them to police and even chase them from our land,” said Nkanda.

On her part, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati described rapists, defilers and those sleeping with their daughters as weakling.

“There are a lot of women looking for men, why can’t you go to them? Why defile girls? That means you are a weakling,” she said.

Kaliati said she felt it was wrong to bail out rapists and those who defile girls.

She said her ministry has lined up a number of activities aimed at helping young girls who dropped out of school due to various reasons. The interventions include re-admission, HeforShe initiative, and eradication of harmful cultural practices.