Hlanganisa Mainstreaming Disability into Community Level GBV Interventions (Regional Programme) Inception Workshop from 4 – 5 July 2022 in Blantyre.
One of the Development partners Hlanganisa Institute for Development in Southern Africa, has imparted knowledge in various Organisations including BLAYACO in areas of Mainstreaming Gender Based Violence GBV and Disability Interventions.
The two day workshop, drilled representatives of various organisations to have an in-depth understanding of the programme ( mainstreaming Disability into Community Level GBV Interventions )
In addition, Hlanganisa provided space for learning and sharing amongst beneficiary Organisations and visited the working guidelines for a broad working relationship.
Bwalo La Ana Active Youth Community Organisation (BLAYACO) with support from Art & Global Health Center Africa through the Make Art For Women Activism (MAWA) project, is implementing a project which seeks to eradicate early child marriages and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Chirimba, Chemusa and Mbayani, Blantyre Urban.
On the 17 of July 2022, BLAYACO held an inception meeting at chirimba primary school. The purpose of the meeting was to appraise, gain support, and align work for a participatory discussion on the roles and required contribution of all stakeholders with a focus on community ownership and sustainability of activities.
The project which can be considered as in it’s pilot phase targets Chirimba, Mbayani and Chemusa under Group Village Head Magasa (GVH.
The meeting drawed various stakeholders including but not limited to, Chiefs, Police Officers, DYO, Health Workers, School Committees, Mother Groups, Representatives from Youth Networks and Strategic key Implementing Partners. It is evident, from the activities that were conducted and feedbacks that early marriages and VAWG are on the rise in our respective communities. Hence, stakeholders have been tasked for urgent community response aimed at addressing the vice.
Participants creating a banner to be used in safe space which consist of art, drawing and writing.
According to BLAYACO management, the projects meeting was meant to enlighten the various stakeholders on their roles in the fight against VAWG and early marriages in the society.
The project which is still in the implementation stage, seeks to sensitize the community on child rights, to empower girls aged 14-17 in income generating activities, and to increase demand for SRHR services among the youth using art partcipatory approaches.
BLAYACO members standing behind a finished banner.
But what did the participants draw from the meeting?
According to the feedback from one of the participants Juliet Gwaza, Chirimba Primary School Committee Representative, says there is need for the project to target and engage more stakeholders who usually are involved in the making of cultural and or religious norms that fuel child marriages and VAWG.
Gwaza – stressing a point during the meeting
Gwaza also pointed out the need for empowering victims of the mentioned vice economically, socially and physiologically.
Thus on her part, Advocacy and Resource Mobilisation Officer for BLAYACO Oddette Ema Do-Santos hinted on the need for statutory institutions such as the National Economic Empowerment Fund NEEF to take the loans even in the typical settings for gilrs and women to have access to the loans.
Da-Santos making her presentation
Da-Santos said, it is sad to note that we have skilled youth’s and women who lack financial support to unearth their skills, but was quick to point the objectives of this project which among others seeks to empower the less privileged and marginalized women and girls.
a group of youthful partakers – listening attentively
On recommendations from BLAYACO, Kamanga said there is a need to scale up efforts in adressing the bottleneckes crippling gender equality through more intervations aimed at adressing VAWG and child Marriages in our respective communities.
Stakeholders in a participatory art activity through dancing and singingstakeholders pose for a group photo.
Achinyamata ku Mangochi apempha Boma kuti lichilimike pothandizira ndi ngongole achinyamata amene Ali ndi luso losiyanasiyana la manja.
Pa 15 July chaka chilichonse dziko lapansi limakumbukira luso la ntchito za manja la achinyamata.
Mutu wachaka chino ndi Kuwonetsa luso la achinyamata kuti anthu antchito za malonda awagwilitse ntchito “Unvailing youths skills which investors can target”
Achinyamatawa adandawulira Boma kuti silikuchita kanthu powonetsetsa kuti ngongole za NEEF zikufiikira achinyamata ochuluka omwe Ali ndi maluso.
Iwo ati ngongole za NEEF, pamwamba poti zimachedwa, zimavutanso kuti zipezeke.
Poyamikira lingaliro lopeleka ntchito kwa anthu okwana 1 million omwe ndi achinyamata, ma bungwe osiyanasiyana ku Mangochi adandawura ponena kuti Boma silikuyika chidwi pofuna kutukula ntchito za achinyamata kuti ntchito 1 million zipezeke.
Pa mwambowu, akulu omwe anapezekako ndi monga Bwana nkubwa wa Boma la Mangochi Raphael Pilingu, Phungu wa Pakati pa Boma la Mangochi Victoria Kingston, Senior Chief Chowe, District Youth Officer Kumbukani Manda komanso Zakiliya Allisah wapampando wa mabungwe achinyamata m’bomalo.
NEEF Loans Derailing Creation of one Million Jobs and Frustrating Efforts by Skilled Youths to Develop.
Government has been faulted for failing to fulfil obligations in the disbursement of National Economic Empowerment Fund NEEF Loans.
This has been disclosed during the commemoration of this year’s International Youth Skills Day.
The commemorations have been held in Mangochi district.
According to Youth under various support groups in Mangochi, they have earned alot of skills from technical colleges but are lacking financial support to boost their ability to transforming this country.
In addition, the Youths said government is not investing in the skillful youths and yet frustrating efforts to fulfil campaign promises which included creation of one million jobs.
The Youths claim that it is wrong to consider them leaders of the future rather it’s high time they are considered as leaders of the present and the future in all aspects of Development.
During the event Youths showcased various skills and innovations which they have acquired from technical colleges.
For example, Monkey – Bay youth network a youth organisation which trades in production of cooking oil, challenged to bring change in the current skyrocketing of cooking oil prices which the grouping is producing from pumpkin seeds and sunflower
Monkey – Bay Youth Network presenting what is on their pavilion.
They have meanwhile cited lack of resources as a set back in the progress of their skills.
Moreover the youths indicated that, over 1000 youths are working in various Organisations in the district but still lack financial support according to Zakaria Allisah District Youth Network Chairperson Mangochi District.
On his part Kumbukani Manda District Youth Officer for Mangochi said this is derailing numerous developmental activities.
Speaking at the event, Mangochi DC Raphael Pilingu said government is geared to transforming the lives of youths and that they will take the issues there in to the rightful officials for redressing.
And on her part, Mangochi Central Member of Parliament Victoria Kingston said whatever problem the Youths have raised are viable and they will take it up to be addressed accordingly.
Hlanganisa Mainstreaming Disability into Community Level GBV Interventions (Regional Programme) Inception Workshop from 4 – 5 July 2022 in Blantyre.
One of the Development partners Hlanganisa Institute for Development in Southern Africa, has imparted knowledge in various Organisations including BLAYACO in areas of Mainstreaming Gender Based Violence GBV and Disability Interventions.
particpants pose after a 2 day(s) workshop.
The two day workshop, drilled representatives of various organisations to have an in-depth understanding of the programme ( mainstreaming Disability into Community Level GBV Interventions )
In addition, Hlanganisa provided space for learning and sharing amongst beneficiary Organisations and visited the working guidelines for a broad working relationship.
In a twist of invents The Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) is set to appeal the eight year jail sentence given to John who was found with aver 70 plastic bags of cannabis sativa weighing 134 kilograms.
A storm is raging on social media following the recent sentence of 8 years imprisonment to a 19 year old Mussa John who has been sentenced for being found with 78 plastic bags of Indian hemp commonly known as Chamba.
Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Limbe sentenced John a development that has forced the activist’s to comment.
According to Limbe Police publicist, inspector Patrick Mussa, the convict pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal possession of illicit drug and pleaded leniency on the grounds that he is young and has siblings and parents who he looks after.
The state through Inspector Mussa asked the court to grant John a custodial sentence, due to the quantity of hermp the man had.
Martha Chizuma Anti Corruption Bureau Director, musician Kalawe and Pemphero Mphande Social Media activist are some of the gurus who are demanding for justice for the young man.
In 2020 Malawi passed a bill decriminalising cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes, almost five years after a motion to legalise industrial hemp was adopted.
The country follows in the footsteps of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Lesotho, neighbouring south-east African states that have legalised medicinal cannabis, as well as South Africa, where medicinal and recreational use was decriminalised in 2018.
Meanwhile, John has been on the wrong side of the law, according to other activist they they think government made less or no sensitisation and civic education on how to differentiate between industrial hemp and cannabis.
A picture of John sitting on the said bags of Indian hemp.
The issue of John is an indication of different cases of this sort happening across the country.
but activist are claiming that the sentence is very punitive and disastrous to the boys life.
According to Chizuma posting on her official Facebook page says the boy is poor and Malawian, I guess those are additional crimes he committed.
Otherwise Justice has failed in the material case.
Chizuma “the learned colleagues erred in both law and fact“
“The learned colleagues erred in both law and fact when he arrived on such a sentence” says Chizuma.
Another Social Media activist Mphande, writes “Free 19 year old Mussa John”
Mphande “free John”
Mphande borrowed a leaf from one the lines used in Martse’s songs which says Ku ndende ndi kwa anthu okuba nkhuku basi, Mabwana okuba dollar aziyenda mwaufulu basi, meaning prisons accommodate the less privileged and vulnerable, those with money do not see themselves behind bars even after commiting an offense.
Youths Deserve an Enabling Environment for Leadership and Participation in Social Economic Development of Nations.
During this year’s Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COMESA youth Indiba, it was established that Developed Countries have invested in youth for national development and that most African countries should embrace the same spirit for social economic growth of the continent.
COMESA holds youth capacity building trainings annually with an aim of sustaining and unearthing the potential African Youths have.
Speaking After the Indaba, Chimwemwe Kaonga Executive Director of Centre for Governance and Leadership, whilst commending COMESA for the gesture, made a request going to the state president of the republic of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera to consider giving youths more space and opportunities in order for them to help in the social economic transformation of Malawi and COMESA as a bloc.
Kaonga in black jacket – paying attention to a panelist’s making a presentation.
According to Kaonga, youths shouldn’t be considered as leader’s of the future, but rather leaders for the present and the future, he continued to say it’s high time their energy,skills and innovative ideas starts to be meaningfully utilized.
Thus, on her part, Principal Youth Officer in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Chikondi Chasukwa, pointed out governments projects whose aim is to empower youths in areas of economy and leadership.
She made mention of projects such as the National Economic Empowerment Fund loans, provision of Jobs for youth projects, the Youth internship program and the project which is yet to be launched called the National Youth Service as projects government is implementing with an aim of empowering Youths.
Chasukwa on the middle – “presenting her minutes at the Indaba”.
COMESA is a regional economic community, Inter governmental Organization of 21 African states which agreed to promote regional integration through trade.
Hence, Adrian Ndasiyaba, A representative of COMESA during the Indaba sounded an alarm for countries within the bloc to utilise the innovation, skills and energy our youths have.
He revealed that COMESA in partnership with African Union Africa Governance Architecture (AU – AGA) are implementing a 3 year pilot project on youth and engagement in democrat governance and social economic processes in Africa with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Corporation.
During the Indaba the National Economic Empowerment Fund NPC also presented the first 10 year implemention plan (MIP -1) of the Vision 2063 and the draft of the youth engagement strategy which is also in the Malawi2063.
Meanwhile, as an interested party in the issues of Youth Empowerment, Bwalo La Ana Active Youth Community Organisation BLAYACO through it’s Executive Directors Sam Kamanga – have taken a step ahead in implementing what was discussed during the Indaba by organizing sessions aimed at instilling confidence in youths within the catchment area of the Organisation.
A few months ago partners from International Justice Mission from African Countries of Kenya and Uganda came to Malawi with an aim of finding strategies aimed at curbing Gender Based Violence in Women and Children across Africa.
Whilst in the country the grouping was geared up, to working with various stakeholders in the fight against GBV, and organized interface meetings that helped in sharing ways on how to curb Violence.
The Blantyre Child Protection Network is one platform which has a 9 year existing strategy whose aim is enforcement of full protection of the rights of women and children and end violence.
Ending GBV and protecting the rights of children is as well one of the thematic areas under the Blayaco’s plan of action.
Malawi is a country in the southern part of Africa, being landlocked Malawi is subjected to various human rights related violations including human trafficking and child labor, meanwhile Malawi is also amongst a few countries whose rate of violence is beyond par.
But what could be the challenges facing the fight against GBV in Malawi and Africa at large, the grouping of international partners discovered that, among others, lack of resources, inadequate working spaces for law enforcers and many more.
In 2008 the Malawi Police Service introduced “community policing” as an approach to promote enhanced safety and security through strengthened partnerships with the community and all stakeholders.
The Malawi Police service established the victim support unit services at three hundred and sixty four police formations, including stations, sub stations, posts, and police units across the country.
At-least two officers trained to handle violence in child friendly, gender sensitive and victim centered way.
Meanwhile, according to client satisfaction survey the Malawi Police have it on record that the survey revealed positive experiences of the Victim Support Unit.
And on their part Bwalo La Ana Active Youth Community Organisation BLAYACO through it’s Executive Director Samuel Kamanga have prioritized Child Protection and governance as it is one of the key indicators of development on their 3 year blueprint.
In the action plan Blayaco has various goals including, ending child marriages, child labor, forced marriage, sex trafficking and defilement.
According to the international partners, Networking with various stakeholders in the fight against GBV is the only solution for African countries to curb the vice.
Conquering with the international partners is BLAYACO and the Malawi Police which include that SMS reporting, One school One police officer, and community engagement is also a key to curbing Gender Based Violence.
Youth Organisations Under Blantyre District Youth Office Up to Date With Fundraising Knowledge.
A four days resource mobilisation workshop organized by the Blantyre District Youth Office has ended on a high note, with participating youth led CSOs promising to utilize the knowledge gained in order to win the interest of both international and local resource providers.
The workshop, whose target was to equip Directors of various organisations, started on 7 June 2022 and ended on Friday 10 June at the Blantyre Civic Centre Offices.Marcel Chisi and Harvey Chimaliro Executive Directors of AYISE and CYO respectively facilitated the trainings under the leadership of the DYO.
According to Chimaliro, for an organisations to secure project funding there is need for the Organisation to develop a fundraising strategy to mobilize resources.
The facilitators says as a country we have so much to admire and transform that into fortune, ” Organisations have the power to raise funds for their Organisations through individual achievements and through local and or international resource providers” Said Chimaliro.
An aspect that is lacking in these organisations is Accountability and Transparency and embracing the power of unity in their Organisation(s).
Chimaliro, gave an example of Afikepo as one source of help to organisations that are well structured and follow up every flow of income in the Organisation for record purposes.On the other hand, Marcel Chisi also tackled the issue of a strong Monitoring and Evaluation team, including the power of the Media profiling as one way of tapping into resources both locally and internationally.
“Fundraising is friendraising”. said Chisi.
He said most youth organisations lack funding because of poor structures which in-return chase the interest of funders or sponsors.
On his part, Sam Kamanga Director for Bwalo La Ana Active Youth Community Organisation BLAYACO, said the training will be a great tool which will help the organisation to develop a long term sustainable resource mobilization strategy.
He claims, organisations cannot solely depend on government to galvanize the society, therefore, complimenting the efforts equally rely on resources from a wide range of resource providers.
There has been fresh calls for the review of laws governing consensual sex and adult age in Malawi.
An Organisation fighting for the plight of Males in the country, Men Arise Now, has stressed the need for a speedy process in reviewing the laws that govern consensual sex and adult age in Malawi, this is due to a growing number of persecutions of male minors being accused of having sex with fellow minor(girl).
Malawi’s constitution and the Child Care, Protection and Justice Act define a child as a person below 18 years.
Malawi is also a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, both of which define a child as anyone below 18 years.Section 138 of the Malawi Penal Code provides for a crime known as ‘defilement’ which applies to anyone who has sexual contact with a girl under the age of eighteen, this law applies not only to adults, but to other adolescents.
In January 2021, according to Centre for Applied Legal Studies, a fifteen year old boy known as A. J. was arrested and charged with an offence of defilement after having consensual sex with his then-girlfriend of thirteen.
According to section 138, if convicted, A. J. could face a sentence of life imprisonment.A. J. has approached the High Court of Malawi (sitting as the Constitutional Court) to request a review of section 138 as it applies to consensual sex between adolescents.
He argues that, as it stands, the law allows officials to assume control of the intimate relationships between adolescents and violates their rights to equality, privacy and dignity under the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.He further argues that the harsh criminal sanctions amount to punishment that is harmful to their health and development.A. J.’s application has been joined with another on behalf of T. S. – a thirteen year old boy similarly charged and challenging the constitutionality of section 138 as it applies to minors.
*“`Source: Centre for applied legal studies website.“`*
From time long-established girl rights have centered the attention whenever anyone makes mention of the phenomenon called child rights.
This ranges from forced labor to physical or psychological abuse.
It is an undeniable fact that there are indeed efforts to ensure the protection of these young women but however one sector appears to be a miss In this great struggle to ensure the young generation are not deprived of their birthrights and it is no secret that it suffers from being under-looked or sidelined in a way or the next. We are talking of the male child in this instance.
The question is well cemented; where does he fit in in this equation?Kalawe is part Social Media Influencer – part Musician. He shares his opinion on child protection laws and whose side they favor most between the male and the female child.
His ideas are central to the fact that the male child is subjected to human rights violation as the law favors a girl child more than the boy child.
The Influencer narrates a topic which sees a 14 year old minor who once had consensual sex with a girl who is a year older than him.
“My contribution is from a layman’s point of view, at the moment I fail to understand why the male child gets punished for consensual sex with fellow minor,” Kalawe said.
However the Social Media activist who also doubles as a musician believes that everything that applies to the girl child should also be applicable to boy child in the case of minors.From the issue between the boy and girl involved in consensual sex, he claims whatever scenario that happened defeats all logic of law.When asked where Malawi is ranked in as far as allowing parity in minor sex issues is concerned, he believes that as a country we are at a snail pace and this requires adjustment.
“There is definitely something that needs to be done but we are moving too slow.”
“The pace we have taken is at a snails pace” Kalawe
Kalawe saidThe remedy for the issue? Kalawe is of the view that the court has to set the correct precedent in the matter at hand reference (the story of a 14 year old boy who was sued for making love with a 15 year old girl).
The subject questioning the rationale of the laws against consensual sex also provokes the reaction of is a seasoned columnist and The Director for Men Arise Now, Pastor Watson Shaba who is of the view that the hype surrounding protection of the girl child has indirectly led to the demonization of the boy child who is now facing the furry of the judiciary.
According to Shaba it is cruelty to send a sixteen year old boy to jail for having consensual sex with a sixteen year old girl as both are consider minors legally.
His sentiments extend to: “It would be viable if both the girl and the boy are either hold accountable or not hold accountable for their childish actions.
It is inhumane to take a minor behind bars, where instead of being reformed are turned into criminals.”There have been instances where the girl, a minor equal to a male, will at one point return to school after the incident but the boy child faces a completely different fate in that he rot in jail.
“Are we applying the theory of parity here?” Shaba questions.
Shaba suggests: “If the nation applied the adult age of eighteen years in both males and females, all cases involving minor consensual sex should not be a case, rather both minors should not be held accountable for their childish actions”.
Shaba “a review of these laws will be very paramount”
But have the law makers kept quiet on an issue demanding attention as this? Peter Dimba, Chairperson of the Parliamentary committee on Legal Issues, admits that the current law on sexual offenses discriminates against the boy child.
This led to the Legal Affairs Committee presenting a report to Parliament on the same during the last sitting of Parliament which contains recommendations to the Ministry of Justice to review the sexual offenses legal framework and decriminalize consensual sex between adolescents of the same age range.
Moreover the committee made recommendations that raise punishment for women offenders who sexually assault boys so there is parity with men who defile girls.
“We are hoping that the Ministry of Justice is working on this bill.” Dimba said.
