GBV fight elates Chief Chiwala

By MUYANI SHINJABALE SENIOR Chief Chiwala of the Lamba speaking people in has applauded the efforts being made to eliminate Gender Based Violence (GBV) in his chiefdom.

Speaking in an interview, he said he and many others in his chiefdom were trained by Zambia Centre for Communications Programmes (ZCCP) Kwatu on how to deal with issues of GBV.

The organisation also put up a secretariat in senior Chief Chiwala’s chiefdom.

The traditional ruler noted that the recently constructed secretariat in his chiefdom had proved to be effective in handling issues of GBV among his subjects.

He said the training programme which was conducted in his area was aimed at raising awareness and protecting the people against GBV.

"The newly constructed secretariat is a onestop GBV centre which consists of counselling, the police and legal officers specifically to fight GBV.

"We have zones in the chiefdom.

Villages also consist of committees that are taught how to record, counsel, communicate and resolve certain issues. If the case is too serious, it is handed over to the police," senior Chief Chiwala said.

He noted that due to sensitisation of GBV in his chiefdom, the secretariat had received more reports concerning the vice.

In the past, he said, most people used to suffer in silence, but since the establishment of the centre, people were opening up and reporting the vice.

Chief Chiwala said ZCCP had equipped the secretariat with a computer and other facilities to communicate with stakeholders as well as the police.

The traditional ruler said because of the enhanced fight against GBV, his chiefdom was headed towards eliminating the vice.