Hell hath no fury: Victim of ‘mini-skirt attack’ speaks out
A mini-skirt stripping attack victim Vanessa Chilango, whose video went viral in the course of the week, is going through hell following the incident, saying she has become the ridicule of her neighbourhood in Chirimba Township, Blantyre.
A video clip went viral on social media showing Chilango being assaulted and undressed in Blantyre for wearing a miniskirt.
Chilango has bemoaned that her house where she lives with her three children “has become hell.”
She said in quotes reported by Nation on Sunday newspaper: “I cannot leave it without jeers and laughs, especially from my fellow women. I am being called all sorts of names, including ‘prostitute’. Even my children are being taunted. Our lives have been changed forever, and we have no peace.
“I can’t even consider relocating because almost everyone has seen that video. I am bound to be recognised anywhere I go.”
The woman claims her assault began with a robbery attack on her by two men on Monday morning as she was downtown Blantyre, waiting for a friend to travel to Mozambique to buy merchandise for sale.
Chilango told the paper that two men approached her and in a flash attacked her and as she struggled to protect her luggage, in which there was K250 000, a smartphone and clothes, one them men sliced her fingers.
“Within minutes, the two men were joined by a gang that started beating me and tore my black skirt and blouse, leaving me almost naked.
“Even my underwear was torn. For what? I don’t know these people and even why I was targeted. Actually, I will never know,”
Chilango sustained bruises and cuts all over her body following the attack.
Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Mary Navicha warned people against taking the law into their hands, but urged women to dress properly.
“Let me appeal to fellow women not to deliberately provoke situations. When you are getting out of your house, please dress properly,” said Navicha.
Blantyre Police spokesperson Augustus Nkhwazi said two men were arrested in connection with the assault. The two were identified as Frank Duncan, 30, and Dickson Kholiwo, 37.
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The Minister condemned the culprits and then gave an advise to would be victims so that such attacks on innocent women can be avoided. You do not leave your house open and unattended to because the law says “Thou shall not steal”.
Everyone has the right to dress the way they want…. men go around with no shirts on in Blantyre market. They leave alot to be desired too… who undresses them. Some even go as far as walking with no shirt and their trousers or shorts sagging to the point that you can see their buttocks…. isnt that graphic for women too?. Some vest are worn inside others are made to be worn outside but men choose to wear the undergarments outside. Zalakwika because its a woman. We all have the right to dress the way we want. Our dressing doesnt give anyone the right to harass us.
Well said!
mama simunavale bwino like a mother of 3.Please revisit your dressing. I feel your dressing is the one which attracted the men mob to attack you…I doubt ngati nduinu mai wa pabanja coz ayi ndithu your dressing left a lot to be desired.Munthu mumapita ku business wat kind of dressing is that…dressing imeneyo munakavalira mutafika komwe mumapitako osati kumayenda mtown mmene munalili.Zinalakwikwa ndithu simunavale mozilemekeza komanso mwati muli ndi ana mukupereka chitsanzo chanji kwa ana anu..Pepani pa zomwe zinakuchitikirani koma calling a spade a spade simunavale mozilemekeza.
Rights go together with responsibilities
It’s just unfortunate that this woman was attacked by these two thugs let these thugs rot in jail for the crime they commited
Mama you are not qualified to hold that ministrial , post because it looks like you don’t know your responsibility, people needs to exercise freedom we are not in a one party system things changes from time to time, asuch you must resign please mama ,. that woman did nothing wrong she was out for her business, so she was not supposed to fear, mama you are backing DPP thugs you are so foolish, go and rest we don’t recognise you any more as a minister.
What happened DPP thugs got to do with this….this is not politicstarting it’s about that woman ….ahh malawi I cry for you
No No its opposition thugs . MCP and UTM thugs have developed the habit of coming to the town centres to await their terrorist leader Ntambo to give them orders for violent demonstrations. Since since a few days now they have not had any activity as their leader was busy celebrating and sending posts while pating themselves on the back, they satrted attacking innocent women. The two guys who were arrested are active members of UTM
on a more serious note for men to go to the extent of undressing that lady is too much. It is criminal. Those men must rot in jal.
Amongst all that crowd there were no reasonable men who could rescue that lady???
Observer, you are truly right. She talks of having 3 children, what signals is she sending to her children by dressing thus? How can a mother of 3 dress like a girl when even some well brought up girls dress in a respectful way? What kind of a mother is she? Uchita bwanji manyazi ndi kusekedwa pomwe mavalidwe ako sunachite nawo manyazi? Hope you have learnt a bitter lesson! Next time you will know better. Musamapange zinthu mwadala to test the waters! Mitima siifanana, adatero fisi!
I feel a strong urge to criticize minister Navicha: She is exhibiting ignorance by blaming the victim, all be it indirectly.
Ms Chilango committed no crime, and she is clearly the victim of a barbaric behavior. And the minister should not be in the business of defending such behavior to any extent.
Navicha should be removed from her position, as she cannot be counted on defending vulnerable women in this country.
True indeed . The minister comment was stupiditly ignorant of her role. She must go. This woman did nothing wrong . Only than Malawi is a backward and shameful society.
Stupidest Minister …… please resign immediately.
All women must take the Minister’s statement seriously, just avoid provoking situations while enjoying your rights.How can one going to a business trip dress like she is going to Chez Ntemba for dancing and prostitution?
Listen to the advice…….how can a mother dress like a slay queen ……unless she is alcoholic and on drugs….#my opinion
she is an alcoholic lady
Exactly. As women we have our rights yes but we also should make sure we respect ourselves. How can a mother to three dress like a prostitute. However, it was better to cover her with a chitenje than attacking her. It good the thugs have been brought to book.
If a female Minister speaks like this, women have no protection in this country. Are miniskirts only worn in Malawi? Go down to Zim, SA, Eswatin, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique Botswana and Angola and even Kenya, you would be shocked to see the type of miniskirts women wear, but nobody touches such women. This is stupid Navicha, you don’t deserve to be a Minister, let alone Minister of Gender.
THE SUSPECTS IF CONVICTED MUST GIVE HER THE 250,000 CASH PLUS INTEREST,
THEY STOLE HER MONEY AND THEN PRETENDED SHE WAS ATTACKED FOR WEARING MINISKIRT SHAME TO THE CUNNING UNEDUCATED THIEVING YOUTHS,
The gender minister said what?
The minister is also advising women to appreciate their environment, not all men are civilians! Though have a choice of what to wear, but the men society is also rotten and corrupt—so taking responsibility in such environment is a must.
Following
The warm heart of Africa becomes less appealing by the day. As I have said before, and we may see for sure on Monday, The Warm Hearth of Africa is more appropriate.
Should women start to undress men who wear their trousers by their bums??? because that is an ugly sight. some of these guys dont even care if their under ware is filthy.
Just let the women dare the undressing. Our culture expects our women to dress well in public and this is why girls are taught at an early age not to show their legs above the knee. They knew what they were talking about.
Mr. Mtete, you are indeed a fool.
Uncouth language?
Culture or law?
filthy? I saw some guys underwear that looked like a pamper. wanted to laugh
Very stupid remark my the Minister!!! NO 1 HAS A RIGHT TO DO WHAT THESE MEN DID!!!
We are free. These remarks seem to say that if a woman wears something revealing, she wants to be abused, raped etc. BULLSHIIIIIT!
WE NEED JUSTICE FOR OUR SISTER
The minister has a balanced comment.
1 . Has condemned the situation
2. Has given constructive advice
So it is up to the listener to choose.
Give them life sentences. To deter others. Let these so called greedy NGOs erect billboards in the city about such violence. If these rabid men cant live in the cities they should go to the villages. That is where people dress conservatively
Every decision we make and implement has got it’s consequence. We must respect what God saw good. If we disrespect what do u expect?
so God said we must be undressing women. Bastard