Police in Salima have pleaded with people living in the rural areas to refrain from shielding perpetrators of gender based violence and rapists saying this are fueling the malpractice.

Inspector Martha Ganunga from Salima police station has disclosed this today during at a community awareness rally on GBV in the area of Traditional Authority Kalunda.

Ganunga said that the continued shielding of abusers is a worrisome development which is putting women and girls at high risk.

Councillor for Maganga Kalunda ward in Salima Central Asiyatu Chakwera Kululanga has however also appealed to parents not to neglect their responsibility over their girl child saying most girls in the lakeshore district are dropping out of school.

With support from UN women the councilor organized a community awareness meeting on Gender based violence and Covid-19.