“The recent assaults against women who have had their cloches ripped off them in Lilongwe and Mzuzu are indecorous and unacceptable.”
This was the message included in a communiqué sent by the Gender and Civic Education Desk of the Malawi Episcopal Conference’s “Justice and Peace” Commission to Fides news agency.
A number of women and girls were assaulted and had their clothes ripped off by groups of shopkeepers on 17 January in Mzuzu and on 18 January in Lilongwe.
The police have arrested some individuals in relation to these assaults.
“We must say “no” to abuse against women,” said Vice President Joyce Banda, who expressed her support during a demonstration organised by women who were protesting against these assaults.
“There are no plausible reasons that can justify anyone treating women in such an inhumane way,” the communiqué stated.
“It is very discomforting to see shopkeepers, who depend a great deal on women’s custom, offloading their animosity and anger onto their own clients.”
The document concludes by asking the government and the police to guarantee women’s safety; the municipal authorities to boost inspections of commercial places; associations and shopkeepers to take on responsibility for the “shameful acts” of some of their members.