The Minister of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati has stressed concerns over reports that some suspected defilers are walking free in communities upon their release on bail.

Kaliati made the remarks on Monday in Mulanje District where she engaged the District Council senior officials on concerns over the increase of defilement cases in the district.

“The increase in defilement cases should be a concern to both the courts and police, and serious considerations should be taken before releasing on bail suspected defilers as they are a menace to the society,” said Kaliati.

The Minister went further to disclose that she is keeping names of five suspected defilers who are on police bail in a meeting only patronized by Acting District Commissioner Enock Chumachao, District Social Welfare Officer Martha Mkisi, and Police Officer-in-Charge Assistant Commissioner Edwin Magalasi.

Addressing the concern, Chumachao said he will call an impromptu stakeholder meeting to resolve the matter.

“It is a known fact that the district has lately been registering an increase in defilement cases and we are working around the clock to mitigate the practice,” said Chumachao

Despite the development, there have been reports that a village head and a pastor were recently released on police bail by the Muloza and Chinyama police unit despite being accused of defiling minors.