Police in Mangochi have welcomed a significant and positive shift, as more men are now finding the courage to report cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
For many years, societal norms and stigma silenced male survivors of abuse, forcing them to suffer in silence. However, recent months have shown that men in the district are beginning to break that silence, marking a crucial development in the fight against GBV.
According to bi-annual statistics, between January and June 2025, the Station’s Victim Support Unit (VSU) registered 39 GBV cases involving males, compared to 22 cases during the same period in 2024.
This increase reflects growing awareness and confidence among men to speak out, despite long-standing cultural beliefs that discourage them.
Reported cases include denial of conjugal rights, abandonment by spouses, infidelity, physical abuse by partners, and denial of access to property or finances, particularly in situations where men reside in their spouse’s home under the Chikamwini system.
Police attribute this rise in reporting to ongoing sensitization campaigns, strong collaboration with YONECO, the Ministry of Gender, and other stakeholders advocating for men’s rights, as well as the introduction of complaint boxes in rural areas and the operation of mobile courts that issue warnings to GBV perpetrators, thereby encouraging men to come forward.
Police in Mangochi remind the public that GBV can affect anyone, regardless of gender, and emphasize that all reports are handled with confidentiality and professionalism. VSU officers are trained to support all survivors, and reporting abuse is a sign of courage, not weakness.
Police further appeal to the community to support male survivors with compassion and dignity and to refrain from mocking or discouraging those who seek help.
lnspector Amina Tepani Daudi
Public Relations Officer
Mangochi Police Station
Cell:0999-706-525
Email:amina.tepani@police.gov.mw
Website:www.police.gov.mw