Malawi Reports Progress in Fight Against GBV, Says Navitcha

Malawi is making progress in addressing gender-based violence (GBV), with a reported decline in cases of defilement, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Thom Navitcha has said.

Navitcha made the remarks on Tuesday in Lilongwe during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between her ministry and World Vision Malawi, aimed at strengthening collaboration in protecting vulnerable groups and improving community welfare.

She said the government remained committed to eliminating gender-based violence, stressing that efforts would continue until the country achieved its goal of ending the vice.

“This is a clear demonstration of our commitment as government in addressing issues to do with gender-based violence, and we are on it. We are not sleeping until we get to zero per cent,” Navitcha said.

The minister said the partnership would help address challenges affecting women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, people with albinism and other vulnerable communities.

She commended World Vision Malawi for complementing government efforts, adding that transparency and accountability would be central to the implementation of the agreement.

Navitcha also linked the partnership to President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s commitment to improving citizens’ welfare and advancing Malawi’s long-term development aspirations under Malawi 2063.

World Vision Malawi National Director Francis Dube said the agreement would strengthen cooperation between the two institutions, improve accountability and support targeted interventions in areas of shared interest.

Dube said the initial agreement would run for three years, during which the ministry and the organisation would implement various programmes and assess progress to guide future collaboration.

He highlighted ongoing initiatives in disability inclusion, school feeding, child protection and efforts to end child marriages as some of the areas where the two institutions were already working together.

According to Dube, World Vision Malawi is implementing disability inclusion programmes in 10 districts, supporting children with disabilities and strengthening referral systems to improve access to essential services.

The organisation is also supporting 17,000 children with disabilities, providing microfinance loan support to 13,900 women nationwide and reaching 70,000 children through school feeding programmes in early childhood development centres.

Dube said the MoU would provide an opportunity to build on these interventions and strengthen programmes aimed at protecting vulnerable groups and improving livelihoods.

The partnership is expected to enhance joint efforts in addressing gender-based violence, strengthening child protection systems and expanding support for vulnerable communities across Malawi.