A consortium of two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has called on government to intervene in the fight against gender-based violence in Machinga District.

The call by Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and Paralegal Aid Centre comes on the back of statistics showing that 70 percent of women in the district are sexually abused.

Speaking on Tuesday during the handover of Tithese Nkhaza project to Machinga District Council, CCJP diocesan coordinator Enock Kamundi said most women are abused due to economic marginalisation, as such, there is need to introduce economic opportunities to enhance their status.

Msyamboza: We are excited with the progress

He said: “Women are abused because they don’t have a say in a family, had it been they have economic basis, they could get out of the abusive relationship.

“That is why we thought it wise to empower them economically to get them out of those abusive relationships.”

Machinga district gender officer Olivie Msyamboza said her office has incorporated most of the gender-related activities into village action plan to ensure that all implementing partners in the district follow them for sustainability.

“We are really excited with the progress made by these two organisations in as far as eliminating violence against against women is concerned in the district,” she said.

A beneficiary, Maryam Austin from Senior Chief Chiwalo, commended the two institutions for the programme, saying it has enabled her to be self-reliant.

The K11 million Tithetse Nkhaza Project is funded by the United Nations and is being implemented in six traditional authorities in the district.

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