Former President Joyce Banda has asked President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to act on the gruesome murder of business lady Florence Chathyoka, at Beitbridge in South Africa last week.

Chathyoka was killed on Sunday while on her way from Malawi to South Africa when an unknown person followed her to the bus and grabbed her bag. As she tried to fight for it and screamed for help, the assailant stabbed her.

Speaking at a funeral ceremony held on in Area 22 in Lilongwe on Friday last week, Banda asked Mutharika take up the matter and talk to President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa over how Malawian traders are being victimised at Beitbridge.

“Women must be safe everywhere, on the street, walking through a park, in their homes and at work. We need to ensure that we have a culture of respect for women,” Banda said.

She said all women traders should be able to go anywhere in the Southern African Development Community countries.

Some of the people present were Banda’s husband, retired chief justice Richard Banda and Vice-President Saulos Chilima’s wife, Mary.