Religious war on GBV

Recently, Phalombe First Grade Magistrate’s Court slapped a man with 12 years imprisonment for defiling an 18-month-old stepdaughter left in his care.

During the trial, magistrate Medson Banda heard that the stepfather sexually assaulted the girl while her mother had gone to fetch water. The woman testified that on her return, she found the baby’s private parts had been severely injured.

The magistrate jailed the convict, saying he was supposed to safeguard the child who needed a half-day surgery and will live with traumatising memories for life.

“It is unfortunate that while those convicted by the courts are serving their prison sentences, those still out here continue to commit similar offences and many are people the victims trust. One wonders what is happening,” said Banda in an interview.

Unicef estimates that one in five girls experience sexual violence that triggers long-term physical and psychological problems, including unwanted pregnancies, child marriages, infections and mental distress.

The ironic bond between the victims and their attackers brings into question the cultural and religious convictions of the self-styled God-fearing nation.

Rampant gender-based violence (GBV) cases bring into question the beliefs and cultural norms of those who confess to belonging to religious groups.

The 2018 census shows that nine in every 10 Malawians admit belonging to a religious denomination.

The sheer numbers dial up the calls for faith leaders to use their influence and gatherings to fight against all forms of violence.

This is why some major religious groups—Catholics, Evangelicals, Presbyterians and Muslims—have dedicated arms to fight social injustices, including violence.

“GBV could be a symbol of moral decadence, so the church has an obligation to inculcate morality in people,” said Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salima District.

Anglican Bishop Vitta Malasa says religion teaches unconditional love, so “GBV is evil in its entirety”.

Concurring, Catholic Bishop Montfort Sitima of Mangochi Diocese presented bicycles to anti-GBV volunteers with a prayer for the desired change.

“Let the bicycles be machines to help enhance efforts that fight all the ills that reverse the development of women.”

From training people and equipping them with requisite tools to building courthouses and forming community action groups, religious organisations have jumped to the frontline to combat GBV.

The Reverend Frederick Kambeta, the chairperson of Phalombe Pastors’ Fraternal, urges religious leaders to keep championing the cause to create a safer world for everyone.

The affiliated pastors conduct marriage clinics to preach against the ills of GBV, including rape and child marriages.

“We preach messages that encourage our members to avoid, prevent and report all forms of violence to police,” Kambeta explains.

However, he is concerned that some clerics seldom talk about gender issues and human rights.

Prophet Enock Kapira of the Living Word Outreach Ministry says prayer houses are strategic for mindset change since they convene people from different backgrounds.

He states: “During religious gatherings, we encourage our members to speak out on what they face at home and at work so that our counsellors to assist them.”

“Many people are facing different forms of violence. When they open up, they get help.”

As part of social accountability, Kapira and his congregation ensure anyone who breaks the law “faces the consequences”.

“If pastors are involved in sexual or any violence, we discipline them because we expect leaders to be exemplary. Our followers must always be reminded that if they break laws, they will get punished,” he declares.

However, Sheikh Dinala Chabulika, spokesperson of the Muslim Association of Malawi, is concerned that some religious leaders always preach prosperity, forgetting to rebuke prevailing wrongs.

He reckons such faith leaders are complicit to the wrongdoing they sidestep.

He explains: “It is sad that they mostly focus on prosperity and people are looking more at prospering even if they live sinful lives.

“Every day we hear of older men sleeping with babies and young girls. Some men are even neglecting their marriages, sleeping with their own children and having children with them. Why are we not addressing such issues? We need to bring these issues to light and the culprits to book.”

Chabulika urges gender rights campaigners to empower and hold religious leaders to account.

“We discipline all Muslims involved in GBV, but the most important thing is to raise awareness so that people can prevent and report it,” he opines.

Gender activist Beatrice Mateyo applauds faith leaders who raise mass awareness of the dangers of GBV, but observes that more need to join in.

“While some faith groups have special wings dealing with GBV, others do not. Yet others are at the forefront of perpetrating GBV. So, we could still get more voices involved,” she explains.

The campaigner says lean punishments imposed by religious groups hardly deter would-be offenders.

This year, the High Court has set the tone by jail terms of over 40 years on rapists.

Activist Grace Chomanika says efforts to eliminate GBV will be fruitless if people at all levels continue to normalise violence.

She states: “It appears most people are afraid of being judged. Religious leaders rarely talk about it and perpetrators are seen moving freely while most victims fear to speak out.”

For her, it is time Malawians broke the silence and reported any form of abuse to police.