By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, December 14, Mana: Men Engage Alliance and traditional leaders in Machinga have condemned traditional practices that subject adolescent girls and young women to forced marriages at the expense of their education and well-being.

The organization therefore called on boys and men in traditional authorities Sale, Kapoloma and Sitola to desist from engaging in love relations with underage girls. 

Men Engage Alliance National Chairperson, Wells Munthali, made the call as the organization and other district stakeholders engaged various communities in the district on a series of anti-gender based violence (AGB) campaign this week.

The campaign was meant to appeal for communities in Machinga to end GBV in all its forms.

“It is heartbreaking to see someone working hard to raise a child, paying for her education, only to have an adult exploiting her, leading to pregnancy,” Munthali added, saying the 16 Day Activism Against GBV provide a space for communities to reflect implications of GBV to girls’ and women’s well-being.

He said there was need for parents, school authorities and youth groups to join hands in ending GBV, adding that all perpetuators of GBV should be reported to police and other law enforcing agents for prosecution.

Munthali's plea was echoed by Group Village Head Lewis in TA Sitola, who noted that poverty and other traditional norms were contributing factors to child marriages,

She added that Chimwamadzira was another bad practice, which compels the underage in sex with their fathers to gain favours.

“Chimwamadzira is deeply rooted in our culture. It is time for us to rethink our traditions and prioritize the well-being of our girls,

"We need to educate our communities about the dangers of GBV and work together to create a safer environment for all,” Group Village head Lewis added.

She further observed polygamy as another contributing factor to GBV, observing that men marry younger second wives, abandoning their first wives and leaving children with no support.

Esther Timothy from Lewis village shared her personal experience of being abandoned by a husband, who married a younger woman and stopped providing for her and children.

“We harvested tobacco together and after selling it, he left me and married another wife. He stopped assisting me as a wife.

“I was left with nothing, and I had to struggle to make ends meet. It's not fair that men just abandon wives and children in this manner,” she added.

Power to Youth Programme is being implemented by a consortium of six alliance members namely, MHRRC, Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, Youth Wave, Armref Health Africa and Malawi SRHR Alliance with funding from Sonke Gender Justice to engage communities, raise awareness, and find practical solutions to GBV.

The programme works with community structures, such as mother groups and chief's forums to address GBV.

“We believe that by working together, we can create a society where women and girls are valued and respected,” said Malawi Human Rights Center, Programmes Officer, Lyna Soko.

She said there was need to empower communities to take a bold step in tackling GBV at every step of it.

“We need to empower our communities to take action against GBV and support those who have been affected. As an organization, we are committed to providing a platform for survivors to share their stories and access justice,” Soko added and stated the importance of engaging men and boys in the fight against GBV.

She said men and boys should be champions of anti GBV such that there was need sensitize a lot of boys and men so that they should be able to know and understand all aspects of GBV.

“We need to work with men and boys to change their attitudes and behaviors towards women and girls. By doing so, we can create a society where everyone can live without fear of violence or discrimination,” she added.

District Youth Officer for Machinga, Hope Mwafulirwa said the district is working with many partners to deal with GBV and expressed optimism that the district registered significant progress in the fight against GBV.

“We have seen an increase in the number of men and boys that are taking action against GBV, and we have also seen a decrease in the number of GBV cases reported in the district,” he said.

The Youth Officer however called for additional efforts with more partners in the fight against GBV through intensified mass awareness on many forms of GBV and where to report to avoid registering alarming cases.

“The fight against GBV requires a collective effort. It is clear that we are making progress. However, there is still much work to be done, and it's essential that communities continue to work together to create a safer, more equitable society for all.

“In 2024, Machinga registered approximately 6,500 teenage pregnancies, with 44 maternal deaths, mostly of young girls and 324 abortions,” he added.

As the efforts to deal with GBV remain, the District Youth Office urged communities to report GBV cases to relevant authorities to ensure a GBV free environment for all.

Malawi joined the international community in activism against GBV under the theme; Unite to End Violence against Women and Girls, Towards Beijing +30.