Kaliati warns Malawi men against wife battering: Visits woman battling for life after horrific beating by hubby

Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati on Friday visited a woman who was severely beaten by her husband at Mchinji District hospital, reiterating that government would not watch the trend continue but let the arm of law take its course on men who abuse their wives.

“I visited Linda Phulani after reading media reports about the misfortune that befell the woman, and am shocked to see her deep wounds, as government we won’t sit back and watch women being tortured like animals,” she warned

The woman Linda Phulani was severely beaten by her husband JohnYasini with chains and steel rods sustaining deep cuts on her back at Kumbuyo village, Tembwe in T/A Mlonyeni in the district.

She said all perpetrators of such type of domestic violence would be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years and 20 maximum years in jail.

“I do not know what the husband was thinking beating his wife like an animal, unless he wanted to kill her, this wasn’t done out of love,” she explained.

Addressing a public a meeting later at Tembwe in T/A Mlonyeni’s area in the district, Kaliati said time has come for communities including traditional leaders and local community organisations to take a stand and sensitise the communities on the evils of domestic violence.

She advised women to walkout of marriage when their husbands abuse them saying persevering in the name of love is not a solution.

“When a husband beats and injures you run for your dear life, alert neighbours, chiefs and marriage counsellors for help,” she said.

She also advised girls not to drop out of school and get married saying education advancement in women could help reduce the burden of gender based violence on them.

“When women get educated it helps them distinguish those coming to them with honest intentions from those that come to deceive them.

“When you are not educated as a woman, most of the times you cannot make informed decisions hence you fall victim to domestic violence,” observed Kaliati referring to Linda 18, who dropped out of Standard 7 and eloped with her 20 year old Husband.

District Commissioner for Mchinji YamikaniChitete said Mchinji district has recorded one of the highest number of domestic violence cases, but as a council they are sensitising the public on the dangers of domestic violence.

“As a council, in collaboration with the social welfare office, police and non governmental organisationswe have several programmes where we sensitise the public especially women to report any kind of abuse they face in marriage,’ she said.

During the visit Kaliati donated various food items to Linda and money.

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