Mulanje registers high gender-based violence
Mulanje District is registering an increase in gender- based violence (GBV), especially against women, the district social welfare office has revealed.
Robert Sawiche, district social welfare officer for Mulanje has attributed this to cultural practices and poverty that are rampant in the district.
He said child marriages are a big challenge as most boys and girls are not mature enough to start a family, hence they score highly in GBV.
Said Sawinde: “The rate of gender-based violence and early marriages is very worrisome in the district as people seem not to understand that it is wrong. To make things worse, some parents actually encourage their children to get married to ease themselves the burden of fending for them.”
He said his office has organised open days, especially during the commemoration of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence that falls between November 25 and December 10 every year.
The open days will take place at Chinyama inTraditional Authority (T/A) Nkanda and Nkando in T/A Juma, which have registered high cases of gender-based violence.
Mulanje Police Station victim support unit officer Amos Nthunzi said there is need to raise awareness about GBV and early marriages in the district as this year alone 203 cases, of whibh early marriages and family abandonment were prominent, have been reported to the station.
He said they now have a school outreach programme to raise awareness among the youths.
The 16 days of gender activism is this year being commemorated under the theme From Peace In The Home To Peace In The World: Make Education Safe For All.n
