A local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), My Community My Responsibility has called for concerted efforts in addressing issues of gender based violence currently affecting the nation.

Director of the organisation Brian Khembo told YFM that it is unfortunate that there is a rise in cases of rape and defilement in most areas across the country and there in need for mindset change and sensitisation on the matter.

“This is the time we have to change our mindset, when we were growing up they were telling us to have respect on one another, everybody has the freedom to associate themselves but it’s very sad that you find issues of defilement almost everywhere.

“We number of issues that we have to work on, for instance we have an issue of mindset change, and the youth in our societies need to be taught what it means value ourselves. We have our own beliefs, our own values that as a country we need to embrace on them,” said Khembo.

He said the Malawian society has lost its values and there is urgent need for both government and stakeholders to come together towards addressing the vice.

“We need to change our direction, we need our country, everyone the government, organisations, chiefs, religious leaders, all them working together to sensitise the communities to say such issues need to be condemned,” said Khembo.

During his weekly Malawi Watsopano weekly radio address aired on Saturday night on state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) President Lazarus Chakwera also condemned increasing cases of rape and defilement.