CHIEF Nyawa of the Tonga speaking people in Kazungula has bemoaned the rate at which victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV) are withdrawing cases from police and the courts.
He said the intentional withdrawal of such cases citing some victims in his chiefdom, could inspire perpetrators to commit similar offences within a short period of time.
Chief Nyawa said GBV victims should ensure that once cases were reported to police, the perpetrators should face justice.
“In as much as we are fighting GBV, instances were some victims resort to withdraw cases from police or court usually motivate perpetrators to commit same offences,” he said.
He was speaking in Choma on Wednesday during the Zambia Women Media Association (ZAMWA) workshop on GBV.
In its continued efforts to combat and reduce incidences of GBV, the Government enacted the Anti-GBV Act No.1 2011 following wide consultation with all stakeholders
On crime, Chief Nyawa was dismayed with increased cases of stock theft in the chiefdom in which many villagers were losing hundreds of cattle.
He urged the Government to consider transferring some police officers from Kazungula who had worked for many years alleging that they were not proactive on duty.
ZAMWA chairperson Felistus Chipako challenged the media to remain proactive and play a key role in helping to expose abusive vices to ensure perpetrators were prosecuted.
Media Network on Childs Rights and Development director Henry Kabwe urged journalists to take a keen role in investigative reporting citing rural areas of Choma where GBV cases were escalating due to community perspectives.
..the chiefs are being hypocritical here….infact there are more unreported cases than the reported ones because of the tradition and customs values the chiefdoms promote….the so called banachimbusa/alangizi always tell the bride to keep whatever happens in da house/bedroom out of the public whether she was beaten or what….that’s why you find a woman with a swollen eye…if you ask, 8 out of 10 will say I fell down in the name of tradition and customary values despite having been beaten by the husband…..its time we changed this mind-set…and that should start with the chiefs….