Minister’s order Stirs emotions

 Homeland Security Minister Richard C h i m w e n d o Banda wanted to send a strong message to perpetrators of sexual

 violence and the nation at large over the weekend: that there should be no sanctuary for people behind the evils against women and girls.

But his message got drowned out when the minister became—as one activist put it yesterday— “too emotional” over the subject and put his boot in his mouth.

Speaking at Chantulo Primary School in Mangochi West at the weekend ahead of the December 15 by-election in the constituency, the minister—who is also leading the National Task Force on Sexual Violence that President Lazarus Chakwera tasked to tackle rising cases of defilement—expressed concern over increased cases of sexual violence

 urging people to help end the vice. urging people to help end In a video that the minister posted on his Facebook page, which has since gone viral on social media, Chimwendo Banda is also seen urging chiefs to play their role.

He said: “It’s shameful! You hear of girls as young as three years old being defiled. Time has come for chiefs and community police to do their work.”

Had the minister ended there, his tough stance should have helped to galvanise the country towards eradicating sexual crimes that have gripped the nation.

But he minister did not stop there. Added Chimwendo Banda: “When someone is found defiling, grab them, beat and break them up.

“By the time they get to police, you should have already dealt with them. Thieves must be taken to police, but defilers should be roughed up, beat them up!”

Gender and human rights activists yesterday frowned at the extended statement that appeared to encourage mob justice.

Non-Governmental Organisation Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) chairperson Barbara Banda, while acknowledging that the minister may have been too emotional in the face of rising cases, said mob justice was not a solution.

She said: “I think he is speaking with emotions, speaking like a father, who is disturbed on what else could be done after doing so much and nothing seems to be working.

“The minister is trying to get answers on why we are not changing for the better after so much effort and as NGO-GCN we are very frustrated. Emotions are rising, and we are looking to what solutions can help. Let us be each other’s keeper, we don’t need to see the cases to increase. ”

Another gender rights

 activist, Emma Kaliya,

 said while Chimwendo- Banda may have been speaking as an individual, there is a thin line with him being minister. activist, Emma Kaliya,

And in a joint statement yesterday, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Youth and Society (YAS) said in 2019 alone over 86 people were

 killed by mob justice and said leaders must help to discouraging use of violence to deal with criminals.

On his part, Mzuzu University (Mzuni) security studies lecturer Eugenio Njoloma said rule of law must prevail all the time.

 H e s a i d : “A s a democratic country, we have to respect the rule of law. Why should we tell people to act on their own when we have laws? Calling for mob justice defeats the whole essence of the criminal justice system,” he said.

In a statement on

 Sunday, National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera asked victims of gender-based violence and all Malawians to report cases of sexual offences to police so that the suspects face trial.

Police earlier reported

 that the country has recorded over 5 000 cases of defilement and rape since 2018; hence, the need for concerted efforts to deal with the problems.

When contacted to clarify on his statement, the minister, in an interview yesterday, said he would not be making any further comments on the matter.

The recent increase in reported cases of defilement has

 prompted several gender and governance bodies to protest across the country’s cities, calling on relevant authorities to intervene on the matter.

The offence of defilement, which infringes Section 138(1) of the Penal Code, attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

In 2011, former president Bingu wa Mutharika, visibly fed up with rising cases of robberies, ordered police to shoot-to-kill