Domestic violence fuelling delinquencies—Tembenu

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Child abuse and domestic violence are contributing significantly to the rise in cases of delinquency and street-begging in the country, Magistrate Esmie Tembenu of the Blantyre Child Justice Court has said.

Tembenu made the revelation Tuesday at the launch of toll free line, which Centre for Human Rights, Education, Assistance and Advice (CHREAA) has donated to police and the courts.

The magistrate stated that besides facing abuse from own parents, many children hate to witness their parents engaging in domestic violence and so they choose to leave their home for other unknown destinations.

“Many children don’t want to see their parents fighting. When such a situation happens, children would usually choose to go onto the street where they also commit various forms of crime besides begging,” she explained.

Tembenu said even when domestic violence does not result in direct physical injury to the child, it can interfere with both the mother's and the father's parenting to such a degree that the children may be neglected or abused.
A perpetrator is clearly not providing good parenting when he physically attacks the child's mother or father. Renowned psychologists say school-age children who witness violence exhibit a range of problem behaviors including depression, anxiety, and violence towards peers.

“They are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, engage in teenage prostitution and other delinquent behavior, and commit sexual assault crimes,” says Dr. Mario Bacchiocchi of the Centre for Health Education and Health Appropriate Technologies (CESTAS Malawi).

Tembenu said there was need for families to create a healthy home environment for their children if such cases are to decrease.

CHREAA executive director Victor Mhango said exposure to multiple forms of violence, including domestic violence, child abuse, and general family climate of hostility, doubles the risk of children engaging in violent acts in their adulthood.

He recommended that there should be a strong attachment between childn and their parents, saying children who are strongly attached to their parents know that deviance will be a source of embarrassment and inconvenience to their parents.

“They do care about the opinions of their parents and try to avoid deviance. Attachments, therefore, would act as a primary deterrent to engaging in delinquency. The strength in such a deterrent largely depends on the depth and quality of the parent-child relationship,” he explained.

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NGO introduces scholarships for virgins

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Schoolchildren who can prove that they have never had sex since their birth are being offered the chance to gain scholarships to university under a scheme introduced by the newly formed faith based organization, Holiness Ministry for Protection and Development of Youth (HOMPDY).

HOMPDY chairperson Pastor Mackean Gulumba said at a press conference held in Blantyre on Tuesday the aim of the scholarships was to promote virginity among the youth as a means for combating HIV and Aids in the country.

Both boys and girls from all over the country will be eligible for the scholarships if they apply and pass a virginity test to be conducted by a well-trained medical practitioner, Pastor Gulumba said.

He said the scheme aims at promoting morality and that successful scholarship applicants would have to submit to a gynecological examination to demonstrate their chastity.

“Some more gifts will be given on brides and grooms who prove to be virgins at the time of their marriage. The idea is to try to instil a culture of total abstinence and maintain virginity in children aged eight to 14. We believe this is the only surest way of fighting the pandemic,” he explained.

“We want our children to totally refrain from sexual intercourse until they are married. It’s our prayer that Malawians should adhere to virginity as one of God’s ordinances,” added Gulumba.

HOMPDY Projects Manager Hastings John Magombo said the organization will also inspire girls with self-esteem, saying girls have usually fallen victims of rape and defilement because they are lacking self-esteem.

“If our children can choose to maintain their virginity, there will be reduced cases of rape. This will, in turn, lead to reduction in the number of new HIV infections,” Magombo stated.

Asked about their stand on the use of condoms, another executive member of the organization, Rev. Tendance Suya, said although they are not demeaning efforts by other players, the organization will be fighting for total abstinence.

“We want the youth not to be thinking about condoms, but virginity alone,” said Suya.

Rev. Suya expressed hope that the new offer would encourage responsible living and help in the fight against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids by offering a reward for children to avoid risky behaviour.

Meanwhile, the organization has lined up 60 nationwide activities to sensitize community and traditional leaders about the new development.

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