Women Lawyers Association (WLA), with funding from the Clooney Foundation for Justice, has taken a legal clinic to Kazguli Village in the area of Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga to raise awareness on human rights and access to justice.
Speaking during the clinic on Tuesday, WLA Project Lawyer, Chisomo Thabwa, said the area was deliberately selected because of its difficult geographical location, which limits residents’ access to information and essential services.
Thabwa said the clinic was also aimed at training first responders on how to handle survivors of violence and guide them through appropriate reporting and referral procedures.
Group Village Head Kyeghama hailed WLA for reaching the area with the legal information, saying communities in the area are rarely reached because of the difficult terrain.
He called for the introduction of mobile courts, saying residents spend about K30,000 to travel to the Magistrate’s Court at the boma, making access to justice difficult.
Assistant Social Welfare Officer for Karonga District Council, Essau Chimbereko, said the area was identified due to reported cases of gender-based violence and abuse of elderly people.
Chimbereko said from 2025 to 2026, the area recorded 27 child marriages, 54 Gender-Based Violence cases and seven cases of abuse of elderly people.
Resident Eunice Mbale from Kazguli Village hailed the meeting, saying the information provided would help residents understand their rights, know where to report violations and seek appropriate assistance.
Mbale said continued awareness is important in protecting vulnerable people and promoting development in the community.
By George Mponda, MANA
