Ntchisi: Women in Ntchisi have bemoaned the delay in the expedition of cases that involve sexual and gender-based violence-related offenses questioning why at times issues are not followed up and suspects are left scot free whilst the victims are damaged for life.
This has been disclosed during an interface meeting on 2nd June 2021, in which the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe in partnership with CRAPAC organized for duty bearers in Ntchisi and women from several Traditional Authorities in the district under a project titled: ‘Raising the Voice of Women in the Fight against Violence against Women and Girls which UN women is funding through the Spotlight initiative.
During the meeting, women bemoaned the delay by police in investigating matters after a complaint has been filed, and in response to this Sergeant Virginia Kachepa, a prosecutor for Ntchisi Police attributed this to a tendency by most women in the district of not providing sufficient evidence to prove their cases against the suspects and at times receiving bribes from the suspects so that they don’t testify.
“There is a tendency here by most women in this district of not providing sufficient evidence to prove your cases against the suspects and at times receiving bribes from the suspects so that you don’t testify.” She bemoaned.
Concurring with Sergeant Kachepa, His worship second-grade magistrate Fredrick Sakali Malobvu also cited having one gallery in the one court the district has as a big contributor to their delay in serving justice. Magistrate Malobvu has since lobbied for the construction of more courts in the district by the government with the hope that this help in the expedition of cases.
In attendance, one of the women from T/A Kalumo, Valentina Zakariya appreciated the interface meeting which according to her has given them the opportunity to ask duty bearers questions pertaining to violence against women and girls and get a response which has shed much light on the right procedures they are supposed to follow whenever they face any kind of violence.
“With the coming in of this project which has taught us that as women we must take a stand against violence and report to the right authorities, we have hope that cases of sexual and gender-based violence here in Ntchisi will decline,” she remarked on behalf of the women.
With an aim of finding a lasting solution to violence perpetrated against women and girls in Ntchisi which continues to register an unprecedented rise in the vice, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe in partnership with the Child Rights Advocacy and Paralegal Aid Centre (CRAPAC).
By Thandiwe Mzumara
Luntha TV