Machinga district commissioner Martha Margaretta Sineta has expressed concern over delays in reporting gender-based violence (GBV) cases in the district.

She said the problem is more pronounced in border areas where suspects often flee to neighbouring Mozambique before authorities can act.

Sineta was speaking on Tuesday in Machinga during a handover ceremony where Emmanuel International, in partnership with Centre for Alternatives for Victimised Women and Children (Cavwoc), donated tablets and computers and trained over 160 district and community referral focal persons in GBV documentation, referral, reporting and the Digital Referral and Reporting System for Machinga, Mulanje and Phalombe districts.

The equipment is expected to replace paper-based reporting and improve the speed and efficiency of case collection, follow-up and feedback.

Kachingwe making a presentation. | Haneeph Maulana

“Survivors often wait too long for support and receive limited feedback on their cases. These digital tools will help stakeholders to act faster and ensure timely interventions,” said Sineta.

Emmanuel International Malawi Titukule Azimai Project monitoring and evaluation officer Patrick Kachingwe said the initiative will improve GBV reporting.

“We have experienced challenges with delays and gaps in coordination due to the use of manual systems, but the digital reporting system is better,” he said.

Child protection officer Robert Kamphulusa said the system will help address delays in reporting GBV.

Emmanuel International and Cavwoc are running the project in Machinga with support from Global Affairs Canada and Emmanuel International Canada.