Leader Urged to Face GBV Allegations in Petauke
With over 40,000 gender-based violence cases reported countrywide, ZNMNGD stressed that everyone needs to get involved in the fight against the issue in communities.
LUSAKA, Zambia— The Zambia National Men's Network for Gender and Development (ZNMNGD) has called for an investigation into the conduct of a traditional leader in Petauke over allegations related to gender-based violence, the organization's national coordinator Nelson Banda said Thursday, writes Winston Mwale.
"We are concerned that his close association with some perpetrators of gender-based violence who call him their friend is compromising the fight against gender-based violence," Banda said in a statement.
The unnamed chief is accused of allowing underage girls to be married off and allegedly taking payments from perpetrators of defilement cases to conceal the matters in their favor.
"The traditional leader has enough influence to order the police to release perpetrators of gender-based violence crimes, saying he will deal with the matter at the chiefdom," the statement said.
Banda expressed concern that the chief influenced the removal of a police post from his area, forcing people to travel over 20 kilometers (12 miles) to get help.
"We are saddened that as a chief who should be in the forefront to fight gender-based violence by working closely with the police, he influenced the removal of a police post from his area," the statement said.
With over 40,000 gender-based violence cases reported countrywide, ZNMNGD stressed that everyone needs to get involved in the fight against the issue in communities.
"We feel that the House of Chiefs and Zambia Police should take keen interest to investigate his conduct," Banda said, citing the critical time in combating gender-based violence.