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| National |
| Women’s Day focuses on Chiradzulu murders |
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by
Bright Sonani, 07 March 2005
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16:05:12
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Government has put Chiradzulu as the main focus of this year’s commemoration of the International Women’s Day following the rising incidents of human rights violation in the district which included murder and human body parts removal.
In a press statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services said the activities, scheduled for Tuesday, include marching and testimonies by victims of human rights abuses.
“Chiradzulu has been chosen because of the rising incidents of human rights violations, particularly those against women and children. These include rape, harassment, child abuse, child labour, property grabbing, wife battering, murder and removal of body parts,” reads the statement.
The statement said apart from the march and the testimonies there will also be poem recitals, songs, drama and speeches from religious, traditional, political and professional leaders.
These activities, the statement said, are aimed at raising awareness on human rights violations particularly those concerning women and the girl child.
The activities will be held at St Theresa Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority Likoswe, where most murders have been taking place.
One of the country’s human rights activists Emmie Chanika on Sunday hailed government for putting Chiradzulu on its agenda in this year’s programme of International Women’s Day after the same government frustrated efforts by civil society organisations to organise a march in the district three years ago when the first murders of women were reported.
Chanika, however, said the march should not have only been in Chiradzulu where the victims are but could have also been taken to big cities where beneficiaries of the said body parts are based.
“We would also have loved it if a comprehensive research was conducted to expose this practice fully. To appreciate this problem we want people to know where these body parts are taken, what they are used for and who uses them,” she added.
International Women’s Day falls on March 8 and the theme for this year is: ‘It is time! Duty bearers take action on the violations of human rights, child rights and women’s rights’.
Chiradzulu has been at the centre of controversy for several years when during the rainy season there are always reports of women and children being killed and their parts removed.
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