Eastern Produce hands over K35m facility to Mulanje Police Station
Commissioner of Police for South Eastern Region Chikondi Chingadza on Monday commended Eastern Produce Malawi Limited (EPM) for constructing Victim Support Unit (VSU) facility for Mulanje Police Station.
The facility, complete with office furniture, computers, beds, mattresses, blankets, fridge, cooker and other kitchen utensils has cost the tea, macadamia and forestry growing company in Thyolo and Mulanje K35 million.
Speaking during the handover, the commissioner said Mulanje was one of the districts in the region registering more cases of gender-based violence (GBV) with least 35 GBV cases registered every month.
“We offer counselling to both survivors and perpetrators of GBV. However, all cases with criminal elements are investigated and taken to court,” said Commissioner Chingadza.
She said EPM has been supporting the Malawi Police Service in many areas and this facility underlines its commitment in promoting security in Mulanje, the region and Malawi as a whole.
EPM‘s Managing Director David Reynolds said GBV retards productivity of people in a family, a community and at workplaces.
He said the company would like to see police arresting and investigating perpetrators of GBV and later take them to court for prosecution while survivors of GBV receive psychosocial support from relevant officers.
“EPM has zero tolerance for GBV and when we report any crime at any of our estates and the community that surround us, we expect a quick response and that the law must be upheld with no excuses for inaction,” said Reynolds.
He said with the support that the company gets from the MPS, the company is committed to better the surrounding communities in different areas including security matters.
Ellen Kaira, who represented the District Commissioner for Mulanje during the event, said the council values security support that EPM has been offering the council over the years.
“What EPM has done today clearly indicates that they are a friend in everything and this is the gesture other private companies and organizations need to emulate,” said Kaira.
Senior Chief Mabuka said he will ensure that the community owns the structure as it belongs to people in the district.
Last week, Tea Association of Malawi Limited observed the 16 Days of Victism on GBV against women and girls in which the Minister of Gender, Social Welfare and Community Development.
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