Kaliati calls for closure of Mbowe Park over girls drug and sexual abuse

October 16, 2020 Andrew Magombo- Mana 22 Comments

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati has asked relevant security authorities to expedite the closure of Mbowe Filling Station car park, a popular public drinking joint in Lilongwe City, where cases of drug and sexual abuse on young girls are reportedly on the rise.

Kaliati At Mbowe Park drug dealers christening themselves as ‘Baptists’ -Pic by Roy Nkosi
Kaliati reads some of the messages marking the day -Pic by Roy Nkosi

Speaking during a news conference  at the Capital Hill  as part of this year’s International Rural Women’s Day which falls on October 15, Kaliati said it is appalling that some men are using the premises as a breeding ground for initiating girls into the drug trade.

The minister also expressed dismay with the indecent behavior of sexual abuse in broad day light mostly by car owners who patronize the joint.

She said: “I ask police officers and other security agencies to intervene in protecting our women facing different kind of abuses at Mbowe.

“We have learnt that at this place there are drug dealers christening themselves as ‘Baptists’.  We cannot tolerate continuation of this disgusting development.

“Owing to this, we ask the law to take its course and bring to book all perpetrators involved. This place should be abandoned forthwith. People should only buy drinks or refill their cars but not use the park as a drinking joint.”

On issues of social welfare, the minister advised all women whose rights have been infringed but have no legal representation to consult her ministry which will be giving them female lawyers pro bono.

Her statement comes at a time when some unscrupulous police and court officials have been conniving with law offenders in other cases where women have been abused.

On her part, UN Women Representative to Malawi, Clara Anyangwe, expressed gratitude to the Government of Malawi for recognizing women living in rural areas during the commemorations annually.

According to Anyangwe, women play a crucial role in agriculture, food security and nutrition, land and natural resources management, care for children, families and enterprises.

She said: “This year’s commemoration comes at a time when we are grappling with issues of Covid-19 on top of climate change negative effects. Our women are laboring under acute disadvantageous conditions.”

“Rural women’s invaluable care and productive work under the pandemic has increased in many places without clean and safe water, sanitation and hygiene, energy supply and health care services.”

Women’s activist, Barbara Banda echoed Anyangwe’s sentiments and asked for more support to be channeled towards alleviation of problems being faced by women living in rural areas.

Since October 15, 2008, Malawians observe international rural women’s day to demonstrate and showcase the important role rural women play in sustainable economies and socio-economic resilience.

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22 replies on “Kaliati calls for closure of Mbowe Park over girls drug and sexual abuse”

  2. Kaliati might be loud but clearly knows her job and gets things done like Chilima.
    Pa mbowe panachitika zambiri zoipa problem is most underage girls and boys amamwela pamenepo unlike Bwandilo. Close this place mayi]

  3. alekeni atsikana nawo asangalale. katundu wawo mukuwona ngati akadyesele kuti??? nsanje basi chifukwa akukulandani ma banja???? zikuvutani chabe. vuto la mwano ndi makani ku mabanja kwanu ndilimeneli. amuna akukusiyani. mulila magazi.

  4. Ndiye better close all beer drinking points because its where dzisembwere is taking place abwere ku B-square zomvetsa chisoni so i agree with a colleague that kutseka is not a solution but finding the real cause. Women and girls go there for money. Even some women who are working visit these places to earn more

  5. I’m the principal of Heavenly Grace Girl’s Secondary and Senior Secondary School by Mbowe Park. I just want to say that the government has absolutely taken the right step in this matter. Thanks, and God Bless!

  7. Ban beer. Problem solved you simple minded being. Kodi anawo alibe mmakwawo? Akuuzani kuti mbowe ikatsekedwa asiya mchitidwe woyipawo? Such a simple minded minister in a simple minded government

  8. Even the owner of Mbowe cannot allow his daughters to patronize that place. Can the Tonse Allience get an investor to to establish and open a a big screen cinema place. We alreadyhad these during Kamuzu at Apollo and Drive In, why not now. Youths are indulging in beige drinking because they do not have any to go for entertainment. The main problem was Muluzi who killed all good things Kamuzu gave Malawians. I wish Bingu came immediately after Kamuzu not Muluzi.

  9. As a parent, I really want to commend this move of closing the Park. Zimachitika pamene paja atsikana athu 2 years from now akhala atadwala

  11. Carry a thorough investigation and then make a proper move. Dont just say things for the sake of pleasing the donors that u are taking action. Most of the drug abuse and sexual scandals is done at Bwandilo. That’s what was to be your focus. But nay you just targetted this Mbowe owned by a previous one who might have a different political affiliation than yours. Shame shame shame.

    1. the moment we stop thinking about things along party/tribal. lines is the moment we start fixing this country. Not everything has to do with political parties. Yes bwandilo also has drugs but that does not make it any lesser than mbowe.

  12. closing the drinking place is not the final solution. the final solution is tracking and apprehending the core drug tycoons. kuseka mwaseka pa menepo, iwo asamukira ku malo ena otchuka azikagulitsira kumeneko namapitiliza kuononga miyoyo ya achinyamata.
    

  13. Ameneyo ndiye Akweni Kaliati. The invincible lady. The filling station has been catering to non motorists this network has been kicked below the belt this filthy syndicate has been uncovered. The CID might have been operating in connivance with the ringleaders the underworld drug barons from nowhere this lady Kaliati shoots from the hip as she uncovered the drugs mixed with food at Kande in Nkhata Bay. This is the Kaliati who might have her own foibles but let’s say this girl reads her ministry’s portfolio very deeply with precision. She is a rarity not an echo chamber of trash

  14. Closing the joint is not solving the problem….
    poverty and lack of jobs is the source of the problem although others they enjoy that
    On drugs, our men and women in uniform can do better…Malawi is a small country

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