By the office of Communications
The Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) in the diocese of Mangochi held a two-day meeting- from 27 to 28 June, 2024- at Liwonde Superior Lodgewith, its workers and other representatives from the diocese as well as some government officials. This meeting aimed at discussing how to end different forms of violence on vulnerable people like children, the elderly and other people in their work places.
Speaking on behalf of the bishop, Fr. Chris Sichinga said that the church did not, cannot and will not tolerate violence of any form. He then urged all participants of this training to go and proclaim the same message of zero tolerance of violence. However, since violence is real, he advised that there should be a way of helping those whose rights are being violated in the parishes and villages.
In trying to give a solution to the suggestion of the former, Fr. Lazarus Grevulo, the Judicial Vicar of the diocese of Mangochi and also the chairperson of safeguarding policy committee in the diocese of Mangochi gave his recommendation that there should be focal persons both in the parishes as well and in the villages, where those who get victimized with any violence should be reporting for assistance.
Nelia Kumalere, a Social welfare worker at Balaka District council added that violence is an enemy of development hence not to be tolerated if people want to progress in life.
At the end of this training, CADECOM came up with an action plan of how to implement this project. Among other activities, CADECOM decided to establish a mobile number which will be made known to the whole diocese, through which people can be using to report any kind of violence in their societies.
