Citizen Alliance, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has asked Nkhata Bay District Council to formulate by-laws to fight gender-based violence (GBV).

Speaking on Monday during a meeting with the district’s Gender Technical Working Group, the NGO’s district programmes officer Paul Saka said relying on traditional leaders’ by-laws alone is not enough to combat the vice.

“Therefore, formulate district by-laws that will complement those from communities,” he said.

Nkhata Bay District Council spokesperson Patrick Botha said plans are underway to formulate the by-laws.

He said chiefs, area development committees and faith leaders met to vet the drafted by-laws before they could be presented to the Ministry of Justice.

Botha: We are scrutinising the laws

“So far, we are scrutinising the by-laws drafted at community level to fine-tune those that might be in conflict with national laws or the Constitution,” said Botha.

Through the Spotlight Initiative, several NGOs, including Citizen Alliance, are implementing interventions to end GBV in Nkhata Bay.

Speaking earlier, Nkhata Bay District Gender Technical Working Group chairperson Isaac Mkandawire commended Spotlight Initiative for terminating 256 child marriages in the district.

Mkandawire, who is also the district’s director of planning and development, said the initiative facilitated the prosecution of 64 gender-related cases.

Traditional Authority Timbiri said chiefs in the district have enhanced efforts to eradicate cultural practices that fuel GBV.

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