Oxfam boosts MPs GBV fight

Oxfam in Malawi has donated four motorcycles to four female members of Parliament (MPs) in Mangochi to help them in rolling out campaigns to fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in the district.

The donation follows an increase in GBV cases in the district due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected women’s businesses.

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Friday in Mangochi, Oxfam in Malawi country director Lingalireni Mihowa said the motorbikes will help MPs to tackle GBV in their communities.

She said Oxfam is working with all female MPs nationwide through Parliamentary Women Caucus to end any form of violence women and girls face.

Said Mihowa: “We don’t want women and girls to be victims of gender-based violence. We want to ensure that justice is intact.

“Our organisation collaborated with Malawi Police Service so that all gender-based violence perpetrators are brought to book.”

Mangochi Nkungulu legislator Aisha Mambo Adams, who is also Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said the motorbikes will help local authorities to reachpeople in hard-to- reach areas with messages against GBV.

“The motorbikes will help some victims to report the abuses and also the perpetrators to stop their evil acts,” she said.

The four beneficiary legislators are Adams, Victoria Kingstone (Mangochi Central), Francesca Masamba Theula (Mangochi East) and Lilian Patel (Mangochi South).

Oxfam launched Ending Violence against Women and Girls  campaign in August 2020 in Phalombe.