Duty bearers in Nkhata-Bay have been challenged to fight human trafficking by reporting such cases and sensitising communities about the evil practice.

Local leaders in Nkhata-Bay have vowed to take leading roles in the fight against Covid-19 and cholera as the district prepares for the launch of integrated Covid-19 Vaccination and Tithetse Cholera campaigns.

Minister of transport and public works Jacob Hara has expressed dissatisfaction over the management of the Nkhata-Bay Jetty by concessionaire Mota Engil, saying it is deteriorating by each passing day.

Water and Environmental Sanitation Network (WESNET) says if cholera outbreak is not contained during this dry season, it might be almost impossible to stop it come the rainy season.

A Magistrate Court in Nkhatabay has adjourned to 27th June a rape case in which a 45-year-old man, Clever Msosa is being accused of raping his 22-year-old mentally challenged daughter.

The court heard that the matter was reported to Chintheche Community Hospital on 25th May this year.

Looking depressed, the girl’s mother, Violet Kishombe of Group Village Head Ngombo Chipayika in Traditional Authority Malanda in the district told the court that on a material day as she was away, her daughter went to seek refuge at their neighbors’ house where she reported the matter after the father started asking her for sex again.   

According to Clinical Officer based at Chintheche Community Hospital, Gryson Kumwenda, the girl’s mother reported that her daughter who is mentally challenged revealed that she had been having sexual intercourse with her stepfather, whenever the mother is away.

``The medical examination we conducted, revealed torn-out hymen although there was not much evidence of defilement,’’ said Kumwenda.

Lawyer representing the accused, Chipiliro Mwale of Lameck and Company told the court that evidence that was tendered by the clinical officer before the court was not valid.

Told the court Mwale, ``their medical examination was not done in time. The torn part of the girl’s sexual reproductive organ could be due to other factors.”

Kumwenda has told us that cases of defilement in the district are on the rise, like today Monday alone they brought three cases to the court and has attributed some to early marriages.

Early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and high school dropout rates are expected to decline at Tukombo Community Day Secondary School in Nkhata Bay, following the construction of a K45 million girl’s hostel, by the Gronn-Hagen B-gorke Malawi Foundation.