Dedza Police Station Officer-In-Charge, Gift Chiundira, says they have recorded 18, 447 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) related cases in Dedza District alone, up from 2,205 cases last year.
Chiundira believes the rise stems from economic challenges.
This was revealed at Kabwazi Trading Centre in Dedza during commemorations of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Group Village Heads Kaname and Kwabwazi said raising awareness of the vice in rural areas helps people understand the importance of reporting the vice.
Dedza District Council Gender Development Officer, Lisnet Kathyole, concurred with the sentiments.
Gender Officer for the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in the Dedza Diocese, Horance Kasudze, described the initiative as a wake-up call to address economic factors contributing to gender-based violence.
