People Serving Girls at Risk (PSGR) and Equality Now have asked the Ministry Homeland, Ministry of Justice and Malawi Human Rights Commission to conduct a swift and forensic investigation into the gruesome killing of Rosina Hara who was exposed to prostitution in Mzuzu.

Speaking to Zodiak today, PSGR Executive Director Caleb Ng’ombo said the woman’s family is waiting for justice on what led to the killing in May this year where Hara’s body was found lifeless in her room with deep injuries on the face and private parts.

“Rosina’s case is sadly not an isolated case, it is part of a much broader national failure to protect women from sexual exploitation,” said Ng’ombo.

 He added that women and girls are pushed into the sex trade through multiple, often interrelated pathways citing poverty, gender-based violence, limited access to education and economic opportunities and ongoing failure by governments to protect women’ and girls rights.

“Traffickers and others who profit from prostitution of others use these systematic inequalities to prey on vulnerable women and girls, reinforcing a cycle of abuse and gender-based violence.

“Malawi must do more to protect women and girls by coming up with strong laws and effective implementation to protect women and girls from commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking,” said Ng’ombo.

Regional Communications Officer for Southern Africa at Equality Now, Sphiwe Dlamini is also demanding justice for Rosina and protection of other women and girls subjected to prostitution in Malawi.

Malawi Human Rights Commission Chairperson Chikondi Chijozi and Ministry of Justice spokesperson Frank Namangale said the police are better placed to carry out the criminal investigations on the incident.

Namangale said with the given gravity and the nature of the violence reported, the police should treat this case with utmost urgency and professionalism.

“Should the investigation lead to the arrest of the suspects, it is the responsibility of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to take over and pursue prosecution in accordance with the law.

“We recognize and appreciate the call by the People Serving Girls at Risk to ensure accountability and justice and we stand in support of all efforts aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of every individual particularly those in vulnerable positions,” explained Namangale.

On her part, Chijozi hopes the police will make thorough investigations to apprehend the culprits.

“As the Malawi Human Right Commission, we expect the police to do though investigations to arrest the suspects; like any other human being, Rosina deserved protection, she did not deserve her life to be take away, this woman did not do anything wrong, remember that prostitution is not an offense in Malawi,” said Chikozi.

Meanwhile, Police in Mzuzu say one man, Austin Chipeta was nabbed for allegedly having a hand in the murder of Hara.

Mzuzu Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Cecilia Mfune says Chipeta was arrested on 9 June, 2025 on suspicion that he killed Hara in her room at Aunt Patuma Bar in Luwinga township between the night of 20 and 21 May this year.

“Police detectives found the dead body with two cuts on the face and private parts and a postmortem conducted at Mzuzu Central Hospital revealed that death was caused due to head injuries,” said Mfune.

She added that while at the scene, police found the National Identification card, Eco Bank ATM, MTN card, and Vodafone card all belonging to the suspect.

Police say the suspect is currently on remand and he will appear in court soon to answer the charge of murder which is contrary to section 209 of the penal code.

Suspect Chipeta comes from Kautira Village, Traditional Authority Mbelwa in Mzimba district.

That aside, a sex trafficking case involving a survivor called Maggie keeps on stalling. Maggie who was 16 when she was trafficked and sexually exploited in prostitution within Malawi after being tricked into leaving her village by false promises of legitimate work.

Since 2018, Maggie has been seeking justice but her case has been plagued by multiple delays in the criminal justice system. PSGR and an International women’s rights organisation, Equality Now have been supporting Maggie’s quest for justice and are holding the Government of Malawi accountable for failing to progress with the prosecution.

Records indicate that a complaint has been submitted to the African Committee of experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child which is currently reviewing Maggie’s case.

Malawi’s Trafficking in Persons Act 2015 (No.3 of 2015) aims to establish measures for preventing and eradicating trafficking in persons, to facilitate the creation of the National Coordination Committee to address trafficking in persons and to oversee and manage issues related to trafficking in persons, along with any related matters.

In 2023, the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) issued recommendations to Malawi, urging the country to address the root causes of sexual exploitation and eliminate stigma and violence against women in vulnerable situations.

The committee specifically recommended that Malawi amend its laws to decriminalize women engaged in prostitution and establish exit programmes for those wishing to leave.

It further called on the government to adopt measures to reduce the demand for prostitution, with a strong focus on combating all forms of objectification of women.