Snr Chief Nsabwe Calls for Police Comeback at Thekerani to Counter GBV

 Chingadza says officers will be redeployed after communities construct the unit Chingadza says officers will be redeployed after communities construct the unit - picture by Luka Beston

A local leader in Thyolo has appealed to the Malawi Police Service (MPS) to redeploy police officers at Thekerani Police Unit which some irate members ransacked in May this year following a disagreement with the police.

Senior chief Nsabwe says in the absence of the police formation, survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the area are covering long distances to report the cases.

The chief claimed that "the area is now a hotspot of criminality and suicide cases in the district since the communities have nowhere to get GBV related assistance due to the absence of the police formation".

He has also reported that for months now, the judiciary staff is not offering services in the area's Magistrate court after they disagreed with some communities.

Thyolo District Gender officer Gerald Zgambo has documented that from January this year, 14 people have killed themselves in circumstances related to Gender Based Violence of which nine are men, while three are women, an indication that a lot of men are dying in silence after being victimised in the district.

"So far we have had 14 suicide cases, and among them 11 are men while three are women. And that has trigger something in us that it's not only women that are being abused but also men and for them its emotional," he said.

Meanwhile, South East Police Region Commissioner Chikondi Chingadza, while condemning the violent acts that led to the torching of Thekerani Police unit which is now impeding development, says police are equally unhappy with insecurity, pledging once the structure is built, she will deploy officers to the area.

"As police we are very ready to redeploy officers here in Thekerani area. It is a concern to us as well because as you can see this area is very far from the parent station", Chingaza promised.

The police commissioner has since decried increased suicide among men and GBV cases such as defilement some perpetrated by teachers in the region which have totaled to 276 from January this year against 234 of last year.

This came out on Friday at this year's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence at Thekerani Primary Ground under the theme: 'Unite! Activism to End Gender Based Violence'.

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