Police yet to arrest suspected youths who undressed women in Karonga

Foundation for Community Support Services (Focus) has called for arrest of the youth who undressed women and girls for wearing trousers and miniskirts in Karonga.

In a press statement released Monday, Focus Executive Director, Kossam Munthali condemned the malpractice calling it ‘barbaric’.

“Focus is urging all law enforcers to immediately investigate the allegations and bring to book all those responsible for the evil attack on women in the district.

“As a Human Rights-based NGO and a champion of prevention of violence against women and girls in all forms, we would like to condemn the attack in strongest terms.

“We also call upon our victimised women to report to police all those who harass them as they enjoy their freedom of dressing,” reads the statement.

It further said: “We also call upon all perpetrators of this violence against women and girls to immediately stop before the long arm of justice catches up with them.

Youths in Karonga started undressing women and girls who put on trousers and miniskirts in town, a behaviour that has widely been condemned.

In an interview, a concerned woman, Gertrude Mbamba said she was disappointed with the behaviour displayed by the youths in the district, saying it is demeaning the integrity of women.

“We are being undressed in front of people for putting on trousers and miniskirts. We even fear to walk in our own community with trousers freely, which is a disgrace to us as women.

“We are not happy at all with this and we are even wondering why we are being treated like that as if we do not have freedom of dressing.

“We call upon government to intervene on this and make us live and walk with freedom,’’ she said.

Officer In-Charge for Karonga Police Station, Sam Nkhwazi said police would investigate the matter and bring perpetrators to book.

“We have not arrested anyone in connection with the incident. We are urging women and girls to report to police if they meet such incidents,” he said.

Karonga District Council spokesperson, Isaac Mkandawire said the council has not yet received any report on the matter, saying they have just been following on social media and are investigating.