Chikwawa police opens victim support services

Malawi: Chikwawa police became the first station in the southern East Division to open victim support services on Tuesday, following the construction of offices by the European Union aimed at assisting and reducing cases of Gender-Based Violence in the district, and the colourful event was kicked off by a solidarity march from Dyeratu Trading Centre.

Speaking at the Chikwawa Community Ground South East Division Commissioner Chikondi Ching'andza thanked the European Union for its contributions to Malawi Police Services but urged citizens to report gender-based violence in their communities, particularly against men, in order to end it completely.

"We appreciate the work European Union is doing for us, we have seen a lot, your coordination with us is what Malawians need," she said.

"Let me take this opportunity to advise communities that Victim Support Services is for everyone nowadays, even men are abused in our homes, let us report this please," she added.

Chikwawa Police Officer Assistant Commissioner Alex Simenti, for his part, was pleased with the event, citing the role the initiative will play in reducing gender-based violence in the district as well as bringing knowledge to the marginalised.

He then condemned committing suicide as a solution to family issues.

"The event has brought a lot of mixed feelings from all grassroots people hoping to continue working and supporting each other, everyone has got the message clearly and I urge men not to be shy but come openly to offices to report when rights are violated, committing suicide should not be a solution," Simenti said.

Meanwhile, Mount Chief Lundu stated that men are abused but do not report it to the police and that the arrival of victim services will reduce and completely eliminate gender-based violence.

He also asked the government to recruit more officers because the work is exhausting them due to overpopulation, resulting in a lack of support for work.

"The initiative's arrival will help us, especially because most men do not report when their rights are violated, and I am appealing to the government to consider building houses for our police officers and recruiting more because they are failing the job because they are inadequate," he said.