Effective collaboration enhances efforts to eliminate GBV in Zomba

Zomba District Council’s Gender Officer, Ruperth Kamtsendero, has highlighted that interdepartmental collaboration with agencies like the police and non-governmental organizations is contributing to a decrease in violence against women and girls.

She made these remarks at Naisi Ground in the area of Senior Chief Malemia, where Zomba District Council, in partnership with non-governmental organizations, organized a closing ceremony for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The event was held under the theme: “Together we can end violence related to the misuse of social media in Zomba”.

Kamtsendero said that efforts to fight and end violence against women and girls require joint action because the Gender Office alone cannot manage this work by itself.

He explained that issues of violence affect many areas of a person’s life. Therefore, when a woman is abused, several sectors become involved, including the police, health services, the social welfare office, and various organizations.

Referring to this year’s theme on preventing the misuse of social media, Kamtsendero urged women and girls not to take explicit photographs and send them to their partners.

“Let us use social media platforms responsibly, because sharing explicit content, or distributing someone else’s private images on social media, is a serious crime,” he said.

Speaking at the same function, the Vice Chairperson of Zomba District Council, Councillor Esther Mbalame, also urged people not to misuse social media platforms, such as taking nude pictures and sharing them.

Councillor Mbalame, who was the guest of honor at the event, said that in her role as Vice Chairperson of Zomba District Council, she would ensure collaboration with various organizations to establish youth clubs where young people can meet and discuss issues that can improve their lives.

In her remarks, Member of Parliament for Zomba Malosa Constituency, Grace Kwelepeta, thanked Zomba District Council for organizing the event aimed at fighting and ending violence against women and girls in her area.

Kwelepeta called on organizations and government departments to work together in educating people about the dangers of misusing social media.

She also urged girls not to be deceived by their partners who pressure them into taking nude pictures and sending them.

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