Mutharika angered by story of Malawian man who abuses young girls for cultural rituals; Orders his immediate arrest and prosecution

Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika has ordered the immediate arrest of a Nsanje-based man whose documentary on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) last week disclosed that he deliberately sleeps with young girls without protection despite knowing fully well that he is HIV positive.

Since the story came out on BBC days ago it has left tongues wagging across the globe with a majority of media users terming the cultural practice as primitive and inhumane.

The man – Eric Aniva – confessed during the interview that he is hired by the community to cleanse the young girls as they approach puberty disregarding their mental and physical health, and their education.

A statement released on Monday by State House says the President just as the whole nation is disturbed with the report, saying it negates and demeans various efforts by stakeholders to empower the girl child.

“It is deplorable that after all the gains made, particularly, in the development of different laws (Child Care, Protection and Justice Act; Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act; Gender Equality Act) which have been put in place to protect girls, children and the youth in this country, that there are some people and communities who continue to commit gross violations against the girl child and women,” reads the statement.

It adds: “As the Malawi leader and Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Police Service, the President has directed the Police to immediately arrest Mr. Eric Aniva, investigate him and take him to court forthwith for the defilement cases which he apparently confesses to”.

The President has further ordered tough action to Aniva for deliberately putting the young girls under the threat of contracting HIV/AIDS due to his serious status.

“And since Mr. Eric Aniva confesses to be HIV positive and that he never uses protection in his evil acts against the innocent girls and women, he should further be investigated for exposing the young girls to contracting HIV and further be charged accordingly.”

The Malawi leader says any form of abuse towards girls will always be faced with stiff punishment because it is retrogressive in as far as development is concerned.

Of late both President Mutharika and First Lady Madame Gertrude Mutharika have been appointed into various global initiatives that campaign for the empowerment of the girl child. In that vein their total dismay on the report is well understood.