By Martin Banda

Kasungu, December 20, Mana: Group Village Head Uthonde of Traditional Authority Lukwa in Kasungu District has asked fellow traditional leaders to take a leading role in guarding against gender-based violence in families to ensure that women and girls are safe.

Uthonde made the remarks on Friday during a community awareness and sensitization meeting on gender-based violence targeting group village heads in the area of Senior Chief Lukwa in the district.

Girl on the Lead, a nongovernmental organization promoting girls' rights, organized the meeting as part of the activities of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

“There are many cases of violence against women and girls taking place in our communities which call for our action as traditional leaders. We must lead this war and help create safe homes where women and girls can live peacefully.

“It is only when our homes are peaceful that we can have productive family members working together to deal with poverty in the households,” Uthonde said.

She said violence robs the future of girls as they fail to proceed with their education when there are conflicts in their homes.

Project Coordinator for the organization, Tapiwa Maulana said the sensitization was part of the 16 days of activism where countries across the globe reflect and raise awareness on the evils of gender-based violence.

“Chiefs are important stakeholders in the fight against gender-based violence, so we targeted them for the important role that they play in this campaign.

“Women and girls suffer the brunt of all forms of violence, so our mission is to contribute towards efforts to mitigate the vice,” she said.

Child Protection Officer at Kasungu Police Station, George Kantondo, hailed the organization for organizing the meeting saying gender-based violence needs concerted efforts by various stakeholders to fight it.

“We must all preach the messages against violence at the same time reminding each other of the need not to take the law into our own hands,” he said.

With funding from the African Women's Development Fund, Girl on the Lead is implementing activities to help people deal with violence and is also giving out business capital to girls so that they become independent.