MALAWI: Catholic Women In Border Districts Campaign Against Human Trafficking
Mrs. Lucy Vokhiwa, National CWO Chairperson
Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) in Malawi has embarked on awareness campaigns against human trafficking in the country.
The awareness follows a baseline survey that was conducted in Mwanza and Mzimba districts by the women grouping that aimed at appreciating the extent of the problem of human trafficking in Malawi.
Through the study, CWO noted that there is high prevalence of the malpractice in the two districts and lack of information was singled out to be among the contributing factors.
During the awareness training of duty bearers in Mwanza on Tuesday, National Chairperson for CWO Lucy Vokhiwa said the organization aims at curbing the practice in the country.
“People must be made aware of such malpractice and we are hoping that after some time the issue of human trafficking shall become mere history,” said Vokhiwa.
She then advised parents to be on the lookout and ensure that girls and boys are not trafficked by strangers who promise them a lot of things such as riches hence breaking the chain of poverty.
While commending the women, Senior Chief Nthache in Mwanza said that he is to introduce by-laws that are to help in curbing human trafficking from his area to Mozambique where they work in farms.
“This training has been an eye-opener. We have appreciated the problem with other stakeholders. I will make sure that people from my area are well informed on human trafficking. A lot of people from my area do travel to Mozambique and it is easy for the malpractice to be on the rise here in Mwanza,” said the senior Nthache.
The CWO chaplain for Mwanza Deanery in the Archdiocese of Blantyre Father Christopher Nakhate urged religious leaders to take a leading role in condemning human trafficking calling it ‘modern day slavery’.
Through partnership with World Union of Catholic Women Organisation (WUCWO), Caritas International, TALITHA CUMI, the Catholic women in Malawi are bringing awareness about human trafficking to the boarder districts of Malawi.
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By Luke Bisani, Archdiocese of Blantyre Communications Department
