Minister closes shebeen

Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati has ordered the closure of Mama’s Shebeen beer drinking joint in Ntcheu for allegedly promoting commercial sex among underage girls.

Speaking during a public awareness creation at Kanyemba Village in Senior Chief Kwataine in Ntcheu, Kaliati said the malpractice is against government’s efforts of promoting human rights, child protection and girls’ education, among others.

“As government, we have put in place legislations which aim at ensuring that girls and women are protected from various abuses, including sexual assault, but such malpractices counteract the legislations,” she said.

Kaliati advised parents and guardians to be taking care of their children and promote good cultural initiation and counselling sessions to ensure good upbringing of their children.

She warned women against concealing information which could lead to revelation of sexual harassment.

Mama’s Shebeen came in the limelight last weekend after our sister newspaper, Weekend Nation, uncovered the malpractices at the place.