Malawi tabloid: Action Girl in it, chief dethroned for impregnating schoolgirl
Traditional Authority (T/A) Chitera of Chiradzuru district has dethroned the chieftaincy of Group Village Headman (GVH) Chitera whose real name is Wilson John for allegedly impregnating a standard 7 pupil.
According to tabloid Weekend Times, the decision was reached upon following the intervention of a human rights body called Girls Empowerment Network (Genet-Malawi) which was investigating the matter after receiving a tip from people of Chitera Community.
Genet Malawi Communication advisor Joyce Mkandawire described the news as disheartening.
She said it is a pity that GVH Chitera was involved in such an act hence being the one who was among the people who championed the signing of a community by-law to protect girls in the Chitera area.
“GVH Chitera took the leading role to mobilize other chiefs to sign the community by-laws which were aimed at fighting child early marriages and other human rights abuses the girls faced.
“It was disturbing that the GVH had impregnated a Standard 7 girl. We followed up the issue with T/A Chitera who confirmed the development” Mkandawire is quoted by the paper.
She said the Chitera community was afraid to speak on the matter thereafter her organization launched investigations into the matter.
Mkandawire thanked T/A Chitera for acting on the matter despite the accused being his grandson.
Commenting on the issue, T/A Chitera strongly condemned the behavior GVH, whose real name is Wilson John has shown him being a chief was supposed to be exemplary to his people.
“The GVH is my grandson but I cannot tolerate such behavior in my family. Our family needs to be exemplary at all times. I committed myself to protecting girl-child rights in my area by signing the community by-laws, so justice must prevail” T/A Chitera told the paper.
“It is worrisome when someone wants to tarnish the image of my area even if he or she is my relation” warned Chitera.
GVH Chitera’s was not reached for comment.
Action Girl
The paper also carried the ‘Action Girl’ section on what is popularly known as ‘Page 8’. They featured Alice.
The page carries sexualised photographs of young women clad in only underwear and bra.
Average ‘Action Girl ‘rarely gets the dignity of a surname in the paper. The girls are reportedly paid K15,000 to appear on the page.
In 2011 the almost naked girl identified as Monalissa attracted people’s outrage.
The weekly specialises in reporting sensational scandals, mostly on extra-marital sexual escapades of celebrities and the mighty in society – especially politicians.
It is part of the stable of Blantyre Newspapers Limited owned by the family of the founding presidenr, the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
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