By Andrew Gondwe

Chitipa, December 11, Mana: Chitipa District Council has asked different stakeholders to join hands in order to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) at all levels in the district.

Vice Chairperson for Chitipa District Council, Wedson Sinkhonde said this on Monday during the Commemoration of 16 days of activism, which took place at Kapoka Primary School ground in senior chief Mwenemisuku, under the theme; Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls in Chitipa.

Sinkhonde said that if all stakeholders are well united and practically committed to ending GBV, it will be easier for the violence to come to an end in the district.

He explained that some of the factors that contribute to GBV in the district are cultural beliefs, which do not permit women and girls to be involved in decision making in various issues.

"Ending GBV is not only for women and girls but men and boys should also participate to end all malpractices leading to GBV so that nobody should suffer from it," Sinkhonde explained.

District Gender Officer for Chitipa, Rosemary Mahata said that Chitipa district is also registering more cases of GBV, especially to girls and women.

She added that most teenage girls are being impregnated and forced into early marriages.

"Let us report any forms of GBV to relevant stakeholders so that they should be dealt with properly. In so doing the district will be free from any form of GBV," Mahata appealed.

Senior Chief Mwenemisuku agreed that GBV is indeed happening in the district to both females and males which result to suicidal deaths and other harassments.

He gave an example of his area where two male people have committed suicide this year alone.

He, therefore, appealed to all communities to resolve any misunderstanding amicably by informing local leaders, faith leaders, gender office, police, courts and other relevant stakeholders so that communities should not lose their lives in such a way.