VIOLATION OF GIRL’S RIGHTS –the Susan Gonani story

BY LIMBANI MANYAMBA

Human rights violations are still on the rise in Malawi, especially among girls.

Susan Gonani of Chinsapo 1 in Lilongwe is one of the victims; she is 17 years old but because of a number of barriers that hinder her education, she is in standard 7. The main hindrance is her uncle, who forced her to stop her education inorder to sell freezes (fizzy pops) and paper-packed water (madzi) at the market.

As if that were not enough, Susan discloses that her uncle’s wife forced her to do prostitution. Gonani revealed this during an interview yesterday.

Vincent Dayimoni Banda, who is Susan’s friend, took her to his mother’s house for shelter and food. Vincent’s mother allows her to live with them because the girl has no other relatives in Lilongwe, apart from her uncle.

Vincent’s mother, Nachisale Dayimoni, said that she feels sorry that, even in this present day and age, such things are happening to innocent girls like Susan. Dayimoni further explained that Susan helps her with little things, but that it is not easy because she is a widow with four children to look after. Moreover, one of her children is in secondary school where she needs school fees and other materials. “I may not manage to pay Susan’s school fees once she reaches secondary school,” she bemoaned.

Dayimoni appealed to people who are willing to help Susan inform of school fees, uniforms and other school materials to please do so. “I know there are some people and organisations that may be willing to help people like Susan, and I plead that they not hesitate to do so. Some people say that children are leaders of tomorrow, but how can these children become good leaders without education?“