Mangochi District has launched 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV) with a call to men to open up in reporting GBV to relevant authorities as opposed to suffer in silence.

District Council Chairperson Councilor Hasan Chikuta made the call at Lungwena in the area of Traditional Authority Namavi on Thursday during 16 days of activism against GBV launch.

Chikuta observed that a lot of men in Mangochi suffer in the hands of their wives but little is reported to police and relevant authorities to see justice done.

He said men that fell victims of GBV do not come out open, hence the need for stakeholders to create awareness and sensitisation campaigns.

‘‘Normally, people believe that gender-based violence is only for women and girls, but the truth is that gender-based violence affects everyone, including men. As such, in Mangochi men equally experience the same.

‘‘That is why you would note that there are rapid numbers of suicide cases by men in the district. We therefore need to work hand in hand to expand awareness on how and where men can report GBV,” he said, as he further called for the involvement of opinion leaders and other relevant stakeholders in communities to end GBV.

Victim Support Officer for Mangochi Police Station, Inspector Maggie Karroti, said the station recorded a maximum number of 587 GBV cases from January to October this year.

Karroti said the cases include sexual assault, men abandoning and failing to support their families, as well as men engaging in extra marital affairs.

In her remarks, Mangochi District Gender Officer Pilirani Malonda said the gender office, in partnership with other partners, tries its best to provide community awareness on GBV issues.

‘‘In Mangochi, we have made great strides in the fight against gender-based violence and this has seen a reduction on cases of gender-based violence this year as compared to what we recorded during the same time last year. This has been achieved through collaboration amongst stakeholders in the fight against the malpractice,’’ said Malonda.

School learners, traditional and political leaders, heads of government departments and non-governmental organisations were present at the launch.