Malawi: Chairperson for Dowa District Council, Gift Nkhono Songeya, has asked authorities to make sure that Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases are steadfastly concluded. The aim of this exercise is to send a strong warning to GBV perpetrators.
He made these remarks on Monday at Chimwaza Ground in Traditional Authority (TA) Mponela. The council launched its 16 days of activism against GBV.
Commenting on a case of a police officer accused of defiling a five-year-old girl in Dowa, Songeya said perpetrators of GBV against women and girls must be punished regardless of the position they hold in society.
“History is the best teacher. We had a horrible case in Dowa whereby a man cut off his wife’s hands. And recently a police officer defiled a five-year-old girl, which is very disheartening coming from a law enforcer.
“So, we want this and all cases of GBV to be tried and offenders brought to book. We cannot let cases go cold because someone is privileged in one way or the other. Justice in these cases will send a strong message that there is no room for GBV in Dowa and the country as a whole,” he said in an interview.
Songeya called upon traditional leaders in the district to play their role in ending the vice by making sure that all criminal cases are brought to authorities for prosecution.
“There are cases which should not be handled by our noble traditional and community leaders. Cases like these must be brought to the attention of our law enforcers who are legally tasked to handle these,” said Songeya.
Inkosi Mponela said traditional leaders have put in place strong bylaws to protect women and girls against GBV.
He said every GBV case must be reported to the police for the law to take its course.
“GBV can affect someone’s entire life in terms of mental wellness. So, everyone has to ensure this does not happen anywhere we could be,” he said.
David Peterka, Founder and Executive Director for We the Saints, a Mponela-based ministry that is involved in providing long-term trauma counselling safe home, said GBV activism must also involve spiritualness.
“Activism is not a human idea, it is not man-made, it is ultimately rooted in the divine that God is a God of activism, of justice, and not only does he defend, rescue and protect those who are poor and needy, but he calls those that believe in him today the same.
“However, I must commend the country as it has the passion and desire to see these issues diminish though the challenge is little resources. So, there is need for more resources,” said Peterka.
District Gender Officer, Edna Ndasowa, said the district is taking seriously issues of ending GBV.
She commended all partners involved in the fight against GBV in the district.
The event was celebrated under this year’s theme of Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls, Towards Beijing +30.