CCJP in Community Police Capacity Strengthening

In a bid to enhance community response to issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV), the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Chikwawa Diocesan Social Services Directorate has been engaging community Police Fora in four Traditional Areas of Chikwawa district. These engagements were done to strengthen community Police structures tenable for GBV prevention and mitigation.

The engagements, which were conducted in coordination with district stakeholders; Police, Gender and social welfare office, saw over 150 Community Police being empowered and capacitated on containing GBV within their respective communities.

According to CCJP Projects Coordinator, Lewis Msiyadungu, the role of Community Police on GBV case management cannot be overemphasized.

“Community Police play a significant role at community level. We hence wanted to strengthen their capacity so that they proactively conduct surveillance, handle cases at community level, and report to district authorities”

“We are also promoting linkages and coordination among community structures that attend to GBV issues including Chiefs and GBV Champions. Through these initiatives, we are quite hopeful to reduce the risks for the occurrence of GBV especially those that may occur within the Shire Valley Transformation Programme impact area”

Indeed, the engagements specifically seeks to strengthen mechanisms for prevention and mitigation of GBV that may arise due to labour influx of the Canal construction Project under the SVTP-1. The engagements hence targeted the SVTP- impact areas of TA Kasisi, Ndakwera, Maseya and Katunga.

Speaking during one of the engagements Community Policing District Coordinator, Rodiney Mvuthe, urged the community police to be committed and dedicated in safeguarding the welfare of the people. He stated that the district Police largely depend on community police as its eyes and ears on the ground. He later reminded them of their roles in dealing with GBV issues.

“We expect you to be conducting surveillance, investigation, and report cases to your nearest police station. Always remember that your number one role is to prevent crime or GBV from happening, therefore always participate in raising GBV sensitization”Nvuthe said.

All the traditional leaders in the mentioned areas commended CCJP for their efforts in strengthening community Police Fora and further urged them to consider facilitating trainings for Community Police for them to better serve their communities.

CCJP was identified as a GBV Service Provider in the SVTP-1 which seeks to mount a big gravity aided irrigation scheme in the lower Shire Valley area. The engagements hence came with support from the SVTP.