Ufulu Women Lead Fight Against Domestic Violence in Mikate

From January to August 2025, the Ufulu Women’s Group in Mikate Village under Traditional Authority (TA) Maganiza, Thyolo, has successfully resolved 20 cases of domestic violence through mediation and community engagement.

This was revealed during a monitoring visit aimed at assessing how couples are coping after reconciliation facilitated by the women’s group.

The group was empowered under the Progressive Peace Building and Conflict Prevention among Women and Girls from Rural Communities of Thyolo project, implemented by Chipembere Community Development Organization (CCDO) in 2024.

With support from the initiative, women groups from TAs Bvumbwe, Changata, Maganiza, Nchiramwela and Maggie were trained to advocate for peace, end gender-based violence (GBV) and take up leadership roles.

Chairperson of the Ufulu Group, Aida Makaniko, explained that their strategies include using village savings and loan groups (VSLs) and community outreach platforms to spread key messages on ending GBV and empowering women.

“From January 2025 alone, 20 cases of domestic violence have been reported and resolved through our mediation efforts. Victims are now more willing to report abuse, and when cases prove difficult to resolve, we engage stakeholders such as chiefs and the police,” said Makaniko.

She, however, expressed concern that GBV cases continue to rise in the area, citing physical and financial abuse as the most common.

“It is worrisome that many women are still not financially independent, as they depend on their spouses. This lack of financial autonomy is fueling abuse,” she added.

Group Village Head (GVH) Mikate commended the initiative, noting that community members are now more open to reporting various forms of abuse.

“In the past, many people opted to suffer in silence, but now there is increased awareness and willingness to seek help,” he said.

On his part, CCDO Executive Director Dalitso Chiwayula said the project is making significant progress in addressing domestic violence.

“We are seeing encouraging results as women are leading in resolving conflicts and supporting survivors of abuse. This shows that the trainings are translating into real change on the ground,” he said.

Chiwayula further stressed the importance of tackling the economic roots of gender-based violence.

“For sustainable impact, we must prioritize women’s economic empowerment. Without financial independence, many women remain trapped in abusive relationships. As CCDO, we are committed to integrating livelihood initiatives into our GBV interventions,” he added.

Despite progress, Thyolo District continues to grapple with high levels of GBV. Official statistics show that between January and June 2025, the district recorded 1,096 GBV cases, up from 471 cases during the same period in 2024—a 43 percent increase. Women and girls remain the most affected, accounting for 783 cases compared to 340 cases in 2024, with economic and physical abuse on the rise.

Thyolo district Principal Gender and Development Officer, Gerald Zgambo, noted that while the increase in cases is alarming, it also reflects improved reporting mechanisms.

“More survivors are coming forward to seek help, which shows that awareness efforts by groups like Ufulu are making an impact,” he said.