Stakeholders trained in SGBV prevention

By Elton Mhango

Purple Innovation for Women and Girls has trained teachers, mother groups, and social and health workers from the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Chindi in Mzimba district on reporting and prevention of Sexual and gender–based violence (SGBV).

The organization is implementing a Wukani end violence against girls’ project in Mzimba with funds from the Spotlight Initiative under the UN Women.

In an interview last week, the Project Officer for the organization Linessie Kwata said they decided to train the group because they are a concerned party as far as the fight against SGBV is concerned.

She said, “Basically, we want the group to understand what SGBV is, and how they can raise awareness and prevent such issues from happening whether at school or in the community”

Elizabeth Mtawali, a primary teacher at Mzambazi Primary School, who attended the training, said cases of defilement and child marriages are rampant in the area.

“The training has empowered us to fight abuses that happen to the girl child in our schools. I also know where we can report such cases when they happen” she said.

In a separate interview, Child Protection Officer for T/A Chindi Washington Phiri said there is a need to intensify community awareness on issues of sexual and gender-based violence.

He said “Our records show that we register three to five cases of defilement and three to six cases of child marriage per month in T/A Chindi. These figures are alarming.”

Mzimba District Gender Officer Japhet Chirwa urged the group to work together with chiefs and ensure by-laws formulated in the area are working.