Kiyasoni Africa of Chisi Village in Nsanje used to beat his wife, Maria Mtemankhuni, to assert his dominance.

The man, 43, says he grew up hearing that a woman’s place was in the kitchen and bedroom.

“I was the head of the family, so I just wanted her to follow my lead,” he says. “I could beat her when she rebuked me for coming home late.”

Africa says he did not take any advice from the wife.

Mtemankhuni was his punching bag for a decade of their relationship.

Africa and Labisoni happily walk home

“He was violent and I feared to talk to him, but I couldn’t leave because I could not raise two children on my own,” she states.

In 2016, Mtemankhuni’s parents terminated the marriage. They took their daughter and two grandchildren back in their care.

“They saved my life. Now I am alive and focused on small businesses to provide for my children and parents,” Mtemankhuni says.

Due to Africa’s wife-battering behaviour, it took two years before another woman accepted his hand in marriage.

“I remarried in 2018, but far away from my village. I promised her heaven on earth,” says the man, now village head Mkhota.

But old habits die hard. His conduct recurred two weeks into the marriage when his new wife, Flora Labisoni, reported him to a star circle that took the matter to group village head (GVH) Chisi.

The star circles give the locals a safe space to collectively confront gender-based challenges affecting their community. The project is spearheaded by Oxfam Malawi and Women’s Legal Resources Centre (Wolrec) to eliminate violence against girls and women. It is funded by UN Women.

Mkhota Star Circle equipped community members with knowledge and skills to discuss ways to promote rights of girls and women to live to their full potential.

GVH Chisi says: “I was ashamed a village head in my area was victimising women.

“I fined him K12 000, which he struggled to pay. I also warned him that if he dared hit or shout at the wife again, I would dethrone him and report him to police.”

Chisomo Kambani, paralegal volunteer from Chisi Star Circle, reminded Africa of his responsibilities as a husband and a traditional leader to protect and promote rights of his wife, all women and girls.

Labisoni says the intervention brought peace into her home.

“After paying the fine, he is now responsible, caring and understanding,” she says.

Africa has become one of the male champions for the rights of women and girls in the rural locality under Traditional Authority Tengani.

Nsanje Police Station community policing coordinator Rex Mulawu says the project, including the star circles and male champions, complements the law enforcers’ efforts to end gender-based violence.

Chisi Village Development Committee chairperson Benjamin Songera says men have a pivotal role in efforts to reduce violence against women and improve social and economic inclusion.

 “The area is developing because women, who are economically empowered, are doing wonders through VSLs. They are aware of their rights and responsibilities to have a violent-free society, so they are free to run businesses that are changing their lives and area,” he says.

Wolrec project officer Ernest Mujavo says women empowerment is central to the sustainable development of communities. The non-governmental organisation senstises people to the importance of protecting rights and economically empowering women. It promotes village saving and loans groups (VSLs) to tackle poverty, gender-based violence and exclusion.

“We are pleased of strides registered so far in eradicating these vices,” he says.

Africa no longer beats his wife. He has redirected his energy towards ending poverty, not beating women. His meagre income from piecework made it difficult to provide his family. They lived in a leaky grass-thatched house.

 “That is history,” he says. “The project helped me realise the importance of empowering my wife economically, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Life is improving now.”

In fact, he encouraged Labisoni to join a VSL group under the project. She runs small-scale businesses to increase their household income. The couple has built a house with corrugated iron sheets.

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