CONSIDER GENDER SENSITIVE LANGUAGE: JOURNALISTS URGED

BY CASSIM AUBI

As one way of promoting gender aware reporting, journalists in the country have been urged to use gender sensitive language in their articles which provides recognition to equality between men and women in their roles in society and promote gender mainstreaming in the country’s media houses.

Seanna Chingamuka editor and manager of gender and media diversity center (GMDC) which is based in South Africa and managed by Gender Links made the call during the two day opinion and commentary workshop held at Victoria Hotel in Blantyre from 24th to 25th may 2012.

Chingamuka said gender awareness should start with the journalists because it is a well knowledgeable journalist on gender issues who can provide informed opinions and comments on gender to the public.

“It is time to change our mindset and realize the role of women and female reporters in our media houses, gender links is urging all journalists to use gender sensitive language which does not diminish the picture of any person according to sex status” said Chingamuka.

The workshop brought together journalists from different media houses in the country from both electronic and the print media. Among the radio stations include Joy, MIJ, Capital and radio Islam and also Nation publications and Blantyre newspapers from the print media.

One of the participants, Evelyne Pangani, Joy FM reporter hailed the workshop saying it will assist her in writing gender aware comments and opinions and provide the public with the right information about gender equality.

“I find the workshop being beneficial in as far as my job is concerned because now I am able to distinguish gender aware reporting from gender blind reporting” said Pangani.

Patrick Mlekano, Media Ethics and Law lecturer at Malawi Institute of Journalism commended the workshop saying it will assist him in delivering the best about gender to his students.

“We have been asked to use terms like Police Officer instead of Policeman or woman and also chairperson instead of chairman or woman, this kind of reporting helps the public to realize that both men and women can work at any post provided been given necessary resources.

The workshop was also attended by some Malawi Institute of Journalism students among them Japhet Thole, Grace Chimwaza and Cassim Aubi.

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?“

FJVS LAUNCHES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN THE NORTH

BY JOACKIM NTHALA

The Foundation for Justice Victims Support (FJVS) is educating youths on girls empowerment and HIV and AIDS related human rights issues in Mzuzu City, the Weekend Express has learnt.

Speaking in an interview with the coordinator for FJSV, Evans Mwale said the seminar aimed at educating youths so that they educate their peers on behavior change and gender equality.

“The seminar was aimed at educating peers so that there is change in awful behavior and to makes sure that girls are empowered on human rights abuse and HIV and AIDS related issues,” he said.

Mwale added that the seminar has been successful because of good participation from representatives. Further, he explained that attendees are expected to edify others in groupings in their respective organizations and institutions.

One of the attendees, Joseph Mphande of Artisan private secondary school, said the seminar was beneficial to the life of youths and they are going to formulate various human rights groups in their respective institutions so that they share the newfound knowledge with their peers.

The seminar was funded by National Aids Commission (NAC) through Mzuzu City Council, and attended by thirty representatives from fifteen organizations including schools and churches from around the city.

According to FJSV Coordinator the seminar is not an isolated incident; in 2008, another seminar was conducted only for females.

DON’T LET ANYBODY STEAL YOUR THUNDER

BY PATRICK BOTHA

“It is high time men stopped looking at women as a threat but rather as equal partners in
development.” Dr. Jessie Kabwila Kapasula told the nation during a public debate on “The Role of the
Youth in Promoting Women’s Rights” at J.F. Kennedy Auditorium in Lilongwe last Friday.

The function, which was organised by Youth Association for Democracy in Malawi (YADEMA) and
broadcasted live on Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) and Trans World Radio, was attended by
journalism students from Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ), Witwatersrand College, as well as journalists
from other media houses.

Kabwila Kapasula, who was one of the panellists at the function, advised the youth not to be
manipulated by misguided people who only see women as objects for selfish political ambitions and
domestic workers.

“The men who continually oppress women do so because of the fear of what women can become if
they are empowered? But I ask you, the youth today, to hang on to your strength in this fight. You the
youth are a powerful engine for change. So do not let anybody steal your thunder,” she called out.

She gave her role, in leading the fight for academic freedom in the country, as an example of what an
empowered generation of women can contribute to national development – be it political, economic,
or academic spheres.

Kabwila Kapasula, who is the Acting President of Chancellor College Academic Staff Union, also denounced songs and language of popular culture, which portray women as weak, less capable, submissive and dependent on men.

She said that these things look very innocent on the face of it, but are counterproductive to women
empowerment because they can be very oppressive and disempowering. Kabwila went on to urge
women to liberate themselves from this. “Know that from liberation comes innovation,” she said.

In a special way, she commended the level of maturity displayed by the students present at the
function. “They displayed a rare level of maturity. They were not busy texting or ‘Facebook-ing’. They
were attentive and gave very mature contributions.”

Habiba Osman, a very outspoken human rights activist who was also part of the panel, urged
government and other political parties to stop using the youth to meet selfish political ends.

She said that the government should go beyond the formality of writing and enacting laws on protection of
women. “There should be effective implementation of these laws,” she furthered.

To the youth she said “don’t let politicians use you to do their dirty work – either as cadets, or young
democrats. Let them do it themselves.”

On freedom of dressing, one right that saw vendors undressing women wearing pairs of trousers
recently, Osman explained that women are protected by the law of Malawi as enshrined in the
Constitution which is the supreme law of the land.

“If some men do not like what I am wearing, why don’t they just look the other way?”

Another panellist, Dr Augustine Titani Magolondo, said the youth of today, most of whom were born
during referendum, have now reached voting age and are a unique age with a unique culture.

“These youth are born in an information age (technology) and information is power. They are very
networked through Facebook and Twitter, among others and are much more committed to make a
difference.”

Dr. Titani further said these youth are the investment for future Malawi and look at the long term;
what Malawi will be in 15 or 20 years to come.

One of the participants, Aisha Mauntala said the debate was a welcome development since women
have been looked down upon for a long time. She pointed out the fact that men were sending texts
to the program as good feedback because it meant that men were actually listening.

Wapona Kita who is YADEMA’s president who was present at the function said he was pleased with
the turn up and that it had gone smoothly.

Wapona also explained that the activity had been funded by young Malawians both within the
country and the diaspora.

He said they are planning on conducting a similar debate in Mzuzu in the very near future.

MBC LEADS WITH WOMAN OF DISTINCTION AWARD

BY CHRIS LOKA

Gloria Banda, a multi-talented 30 year old woman from Namputa village, T/A Chikumbu in Mulanje who works for Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), is the one who scooped Woman of Distinction Award in the media category. Banda, with a landslide victory on March 11, 2012 at the State House Marquee in Lilongwe, beat Jean Chalungama of Power 101 radio stations and Tereza Ndanga from Zodiac Broadcasting Station (ZBS).

Banda, who has experience in radio and TV presentation, went away with two thousand kwacha, and a return ticket to Johannesburg courtesy of Swift Air, just to mention a few. Expressing her happiness, Banda thanked God for the award “because he is the only one who makes everything possible.” She further thanked the management and staff of MBC for their support, as well as her children – Falai and Alabel.

To spice up the event, Masintha Chitsitsimutso Women’s Choir brought the minds of the people closer to God with the songs “Bwenzi langa ndi Yesu” and “Nthawi”. Later in the evening, Grace Chinga performed “Mundisungire korona” and  “Thandizo langa.”

Ludo M’kukupa Chakwera and Wendy Harawa performed in front of the first lady Madame Callista Mutharika – who was the guest of honor.

Another award went to the wife of former a vice president Felicity Malewezi – who won the Woman of Distinction Award in the Science and Technology category. Furthermore, Kate Mkandawire won the award in the Public Service category and Catherine Chipembere in the Charity category – just to highlight a few.

In her speech, Doreen Chanje, one of the event’s organizers, thanked some companies which took part to sponsor the event: MIJ FM, MBC, ZBS, Air Malawi, Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL), G4S Security, Mulli Brothers, Capital Printers, Swift Air, among others. She also gave a special thanks to the Cross Roads hotel for the free services offered that evening.        

“YOUTHS ARE THE ENGINE FOR CHANGE” – KABWILA

BY HOPE PHIRI

No man ever fell from heaven to be called a man without passing through a mother. At best, a woman must undergo a full nine months to give birth to a normal child, and that is why Youth Association for Democracy (YADEMA) organized a public debate on Friday, 16^th March under the theme “The Role of the Youths in Promoting Women’s Rights”. Essentially, YADEMA’s aim was to join hands with our mothers on World Women’s Day – which falls on 8^th March every year.

Dr. Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula, acting president of the Chancellor College Academic Staff Union, opened the debate by illustrating the challenges that woman face.

“Challenges that most women are facing in Malawi are HIV, high mortality rates, a lack of participation in politics, poverty and how you men have defined us women,” she said.

The feminist and academic highlighted the reasons youths should play a role in women’s rights because they have seen that culture is not static and that it is something we merely construct.

“The youth have seen that there is enough power in this room for all of us, and that they are the best engine for change because they know that life is not fixed and that they have seen how fluid culture is. They have seen fluidity in religion and all pillars that have been constructed in this culture,” she said.

Habiba Osman, a female human rights lawyer who was among the participants, said that it is usually the youths that are blended as perpetrators of violence. She added that the youths are used for political maneuvering because most of them are not employed and some do not have anything to do as a result.

“It is actually a question of what the government and civil society groups can do to engage young people on the dangers of violence and crime to help them to be peer educators, instead of them using the youths in promoting violent behaviors”.

Osman added that the government and civil society groups should have programmes where they can empower the youths.

YADEMA is a Youth Association for Democracy headed by one of the most prominent lawyers in the country – Wapona Kita. Among the participants at the YADEMA event were students from the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ), as well as journalism students from Witwatersrand College.

In a related development, President Bingu Wa Muthalika presided over the commemoration of World Women’s Day in Lilongwe. The event was held at Civo Stadium on 17^th March 2012.

JOURNAIDS ADDRESSES MIJ STUDENTS

Dingaan Mithi: JournAids programme manager

BY CHIMWEMWE PADATHA

Lilongwe students of the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) have expressed words of applause after being addressed on HIV/AIDS, gender and human rights.

Journalists Association Against Aids (JournAids) Programme Manager, DingaanMithi, delivered his one hour public lecture to the students on Thursday, 23 February 2012.

Among other areas, the program manager explained how the students can boost their carrier and improve their writing skillsthrough research.

“You have to utilise various websites that can help you build your career such as the genderlinks website where we are trying to instil vital information and make the media know what human rights, HIV/AIDS and gender are all about and how they are linked,” he said.

The students were also encouraged to work hand in hand with different organisations to ensure that the issues of human rights are being observed.

“Read a lot of publications on human rights, it will help ease your work when you venture into media industry and plan to write on human rights issues’ he concluded.

Journalists Association Against AIDS is a non-governmental organisation that works with government to strengthen the capacity of the media, other institutions and stakeholders on issues of human rights, gender, HIV/AIDS.

MIJ was considered among the institutions to be addressed in order to equip student journalists with skills on how they can write stories concerning HIV/AIDS, human rights and gender.

The organisation has also hada public lecture of the same kind at Skyway Institute of Management, Research and Development (SIMARD).

KALIATI HITS AT ‘ACTION GIRL’

BY PATRICK BOTHA

Minister of Information and Civic Education, Patricia Kaliati, has condemned the Weekend Times for publishing ‘Action Girl,’ popularly known as ‘Page 8.’

Kaliati said such publication is demeaning to women and that it makes young girls and women even more vulnerable.

She said this at the official launch of the Malawi Child Protection and Gender Media Network which was held at Cresta Hotel with support from Plan Malawi on February 17.

“Why pay a girl child to pose in the nude? What a shame? How would you feel to see your daughter or sister exposed like that?” asked an irate Kaliati, holding a copy of the publication.

The minister asked the journalists in attendance to fight and push for the removal of ‘Action Girl’ which she said encourages abusive tendencies in society.

Kaliati also hailed journalists for the initiative which goes a long way to expose abusive practices and act as a call for action on such matters. She also assured journalists of government’s support.

She also expressed her gratitude to Plan Malawi for their support in different government development endeavours.

On his part, Enock Chibwana, chairman for the network applauded Plan Malawi for the gesture.

“We appeal to government not to leave us alone. And Plan Malawi don’t leave us on the way.” Said Chibwana.

Regional Communications and Media Relations Manager  for Plan, Regis Nyamakanga said his organisation believes in the power of the media and asked journalists to create non-exploitive content and bring various issues of abuse to policy maker’s attention.

Commenting on the event, Kara Stevenson, a Canadian journalist working with Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) said she feels the launch is a big step for Malawi.

In attendance was the chairman for the Media Council of Malawi, Patrick Semphere, and Nsanje North Parliamentarian, honourable Viyazi.

Teenage Girls Face Forced Prostitution in Bottle Shops

BY: BLESSINGS HARAWA, PILIRANI MPINGANJIRA

There are many orphans and vulnerable children in communities like Zingwangwa, Chilobwe and Manase.  It is important to understand why they are in this situation, their needs and ways of assisting them. In this way you will be able to help them feel secured and make their lives happy.

Cases of forced prostitution in these communities are on the rise. One reason that is greatly contributing to the increase is poverty. Many teenagers and adolescents are forced to go to drinking places to sell beer or work as commercial sex workers in order to earn little money for their homes.

Upon arriving in Zingwangwa, near the market you will see a shabby building paint black with words in white written, “Welcome to Trench Town.”

Entering the shabeen you will be greeted by music from popular local musicians coming out from big speakers that even people inside cannot hear each other when talking.

From the shabeen’s counter emerges one young and innocent looking girl.  In her early teens, the girl’s name is  Sekanawo Phiri. Sekanawo is a 15-year-old girl. She is the first-born daughter in a family of four. Her father died in 2006.

The shabeen, which Sekanawo sells beer, is owned by her mother.

Sekanawo started selling beer in the year 2008 after her father’s death in 2006.  “Since my father’s death in 2006 my mother ordered me to be serving customers in the Pub,” said Sekanawo dressed in a black bare back blouse and white miniskirt exposing her thighs so as to attract the customers. A standard five dropout.  Sekanawo is just one of the victims of forced prostitution in our communities.

“My mother forces me to sleeping with some of her customers to raise money for the sustainability of the family,” said Sekanawo while sobbing.

After sometimes in the pub one woman appears dressed in a three piece chitenke, a white t-shirt and a headgear, she is Sekanawo’s mother.

Sekanawo’s mother started selling beer  business in 2006 after the death of her husband.

“After my husband’s death the only means of survival was to start distilling local wine for me and my children,” said Sekanawo’s mother.

Now the business has grown and she now orders beer from Chibuku Products Limited and her customers are young and old males.

Eye of the Child is a Civil Society Organization, which fights against forced prostitution, child labour and sexual abuse.

According to Maxwell Matewere Executive Director, the Organization receives numerous cases of Sekanawo’s kind but the organization effort alone is not enough.

“We need the government to provide us with financial support for us to minimize cases of forced prostitution and other issues affecting children in the country,” said Matewere looking concerned.

“These young girls who are forced into prostitution are not only at risk of contracting the HIV virus, they are also at risk of being victims of early pregnancies,” continued Matewere.

He further called up government and other well wishers to assist the organization so that they can handle some of the cases the organization receives which does not only have to do with forced prostitution but child labour, human trafficking and sexual abuse.

The Civil Society should have a wider campaign to educate the children and also lobby for the funding from government and the donor community so as to sponsor for the children’s education and their welfare.

Government should put in place stringent measures to ensure maximum protection of the children by bringing to book all people who infringe the rights of these children.

The media should also place a leading role in sensitizing the community on the dangers of ill treating vulnerable children.

Anyone Can Do Anything

BY INESS CHILANGWE, ZIONE BOKOSI

There are many professions that some Malawians believe are male oriented, very few females do them and less are in top positions.

It has taken more than 20 years for some to accept that women can do what men can. For example: carpentry, construction work, engineering even veternary services.

Soche Technical College, which is under the Ministry of Education, is one of the schools to offer vocational courses with the help of TEVET to both male and female students.

TEVET is a non-governmental organisation that strives for gender balance in terms of education between boys and girls and making sure that their rights are exercised.

Out of 60 students that TEVET sends to the college to attend various fields of the training every year, it turns out that 18 girls graduate. It appears that some girls have a mind of white collar jobs, which also fuels to discrimination because they underestimate themselves.

Miss Chifundo Lodzeni who is the acting deputy principal of the college says that as an institution they encourage girls to do the most challenging courses.

“Girls should not be thought as people who only do light courses that do not involve technical stuff. Its high time Malawi has to realise that to educate a girl is to educate the whole nation. Nowadays you never know if you can get a job or not, but with these technical courses they are able to find a job easily and even be self employed as well,” she said.

Women and girls are striving hard for their rights especially at workplaces and in their homes to show that they are able to do what men can.

“I would urge those girls that are just at home doing nothing to go to any institution that offfers vocational courses and do them because its their right to do so as indicated in the Malawian constitution under Section 22. Their lives can change completely and in that way gender may be balanced,” Lodzeni added.

Most people seem to not understand what gender on its own means and they end up misunderstanding the whole idea of gender in the society. When gender was introduced most people took it for granted and thought it was a way of showing that they are better than others. This brought arguments on the rights of women and it is the time when home based violence came to its peak.

“Women need clear and simple jobs such as adminstrative (secreterial) but about construction and engineering they say are tough for them”, said Innocencia Nkolokosa, a painting and decoration student at Soche Technical College.

She added that most girls are discouraged at their early stages that they grow up with nothing but the mindset that they cannot do any challenging job. In a typical Malawian village they say that women belong in the kitchen and end up involved in early marriages. This is because they do not have role models and some people to encourage them on education.

“This is so because there is lack of sensitisation in technology.”

The relationship between human rights and womens equality has indeed assumed a place of prominence in the debates on globalisation and international law, including universal human norms to guide the conduct of public life, as well as private realms.

The female sex should be empowered by promoting their rights and being encouraged to do some self-supporting income generating initiatives, especially during the times we are living now because of financial struggles.

Women’s organizations and human rights groups have frequently relied upon legal approaches and rights based claims. Violence against women is now considered a proper subject for international human rights law. Indeed the issue of human rights for women has moved to centre stage of the United Nations (UN) in terms of programmes, adminstrative and methodological approaches to international relations.

So too, has the international criminal court which included both substansive protections, procedural safeguards and adminstrtive stuctures that are gender sensitive and designed to fully incorporate the needs of victims and witnesses to gender based crimes.

Women remain significantly underrepresented in various technical work places despite their rising presence worldwide.

It appears so because they are taken as people who do more on arts, entertainment and lifestyle, in this way they become discouraged and opt for these professions. Men in major positions outnumber women, while as Malawians we do have a long way to go for us to achieve gender equality and give these women and girls a chance and a voice.

Thanks to different womens organizations like Women and Law Southern Africa (WILSA-Malawi), the Society for the Advancement of Women, Association of the Empowerment of Women and indeed the Ministry of Gender for helping in fighting for the rights of women and girls in different areas of abuses, discrimination and gender based violence. The trainings and workshops they offer have helped women and girls to open their eyes and discover what they can do without fear of being oppressed by male or female stereotypes.

It is now high time men should see women as partners in development, for without them, society is incomplete.