By Horace Tebulo
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Lawmaker for Dedza North Constituency Auzious Chidovu has asked community structures in his area to be vigilant in addressing various forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases that continue affecting girls and women in the area.
He was speaking when Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) engaged community structures of the area of Traditional Authority (T.A) Chilikumwendo on issues surrounding gender-based violence.
Speaking during the awareness meeting, Chidovu expressed his impression of the input that CCJP is putting in addressing gender issues in the district saying it has among others empowered community structures of the area to play an active role in ending the vice.
“We are grateful for the intervention that CCJP is bringing into the area as it has enabled people including community structures here to be in a position to report cases of gender-based violence to police, chiefs, and other stakeholders. Through this, we have seen a decrease in the cases,” said Chidovu.
He said he remains committed to ending the vice saying he will utilize the forthcoming Parliamentary session to push for action from the government, adding he will continue engaging community leaders to play a pivotal role in ending the vice.
In his remarks, CCJP Programs officer for Dedza Diocese Horace Kasudze described the meeting as crucial saying it was a platform for information sharing on efforts to end gender-based violence.
“We organized this meeting to raise awareness on issues of gender-based violence after receiving a lot of reports on the cases happening in this area. We brought different duty bearers to explain to the people the impact of the vice with respect to the development of the country,” said Kasudze.
Kasudze has since asked the government to enforce laws to promote human rights in an effort to end different forms of gender-based violence that the country is registering.
He also since asked communities in the district to report the cases to relevant authorities for possible action on the matter.
The project dubbed Promotion of gender equality and fight against gender-based violence is targeting the Traditional Authorities (T.As) of Chilikumwendo and Ganya in Dedza and Ntcheu districts respectively.
The project dubbed Promotion of gender equality and fight against gender-based violence is targeting Traditional Authorities (T.As) Ganya and Champiti Ntcheu and Inkosi Chilikumwendo in Dedza districts.
