Archaic cultural beliefs fuelling violation of children’s rights in Malawi

Supernatural beliefs among Malawians continue fuelling cases of violence against children in the country, police authorities said during a sensitization meeting on children’s rights held in Mzimba district.

Assistant commissioner of police Darlington Akambadi said children in the country are being subjected to various forms of abuse due to some outdated cultural myths.

“National statistics reveals that cases of violation against children’s rights are rampant in the country and the major cause has been some outdated cultural myths such as the belief that sleeping with underage girls one may be healed from HIV/AIDS and one find good luck after sleeping with young girls.

The officer also added that the recent barbaric attacks on people living with albinism have also greatly contributed towards this alarming level of violation against children’s rights.

Akambadi said: “With funding from UNICEF we have lined up a number of activities to that aims at enhancing information dissemination in order to change the mindsets of the people towards safeguarding children’s rights.”

In his remarks, traditional authority Kampingo Sibande echoed Malawi police’ observation saying cases of violation of children’s rights are rampant in his area.

The local leader appealed to the general public to abandon outdated cultural beliefs that infringes children’s rights.

“My area has registered many cases of violation of children’s rights some of the factors being an outdated cultural beliefs such as sleeping with an underage girls as a charm for good jobs in South Africa and the belief that girls are source of wealth has worsened the situation, but I think It is about time Malawians abandoned these archaic beliefs and be in line with the modern life,” said Kampingo Sibande.

The sensitization meetings which is an ongoing campaign was also spiced up with a football match between Blue eagles and Mzimba select which ended 5 nil in favour of the eagles.

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