Mzimba district gender officer Naomi Mwale has challenged stakeholders, including chiefs to continue championing interventions to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV) in the district.

Her advice comes ahead of this year’s commemoration of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence observed annually from November 25 to December 10.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Mwale said from January to October this year, Mzimba has recorded 1 428 GBV cases.

She said 1 170 of the cases involve females while 258 involve males.

Mwale: We are preparing well

“The cases include sexual abuse, child marriages, child pregnancy, physical and emotional abuses, neglect, trafficking and economic abuse,” said Mwale.

She said it was important that Mzimba will host the 2023 commemoration expected to be presided over by President Lazarus Chakwera.

“We are preparing well and we are ready to host the event. This is good considering that Mzimba is one of the districts with high cases of gender-based violence and it will challenge us to work hard to eliminate the vice,” said Mwale.

Coalition for the

Empowerment of Women and Girls executive director Beatrice Mateyu said they will continue to raise awareness on the evils of GBV in Mzimba.

She said: “We engage different stakeholders, including traditional leaders to be champions in the fight against GBV.

“Currently, we are implementing an M1 Rehabilitation GBV Project in Mzimba where we are sensitising people about GBV and how they can prevent and report cases.”

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign that challenges stakeholders to join forces to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

The campaign this year will be celebrated under the theme ‘Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls’.

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