Police burn initiation camps

Sep 26, 2016 Politics 123
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Malawi Police officers in Mangochi district have set ablaze several initiation camps which were teaching children sexual skills instead of offering them “sound advice”.

Machinga District Police Spokesperson Dave Sulumba told the press that some initiation camps built along river banks and mountain slopes were teaching children sexual skills.

Initiation camp torched. (Library)
Initiation camp torched. (Library)

“We have indeed torched some initiation camps built along river banks and on mountain slopes. We are not against the cultural practice of chinamwali (initiation) but the government wants children to go to school,” he said.

Sulumba added that many traditional chiefs have supported the torching of the shacks being used as initiation camps because the new school year has started.

“There is realisation among most chiefs that initiation ceremonies are linked to teenage pregnancies and child marriages. These can be addressed by improving children’s access to basic education,” he added.

Initiation ceremonies in rural Malawi are regarded as the transitional passage from childhood to adulthood. During school holidays, children spend some weeks at initiation camps where they are taught household chores and how to conduct themselves once married.

Meanwhile, there are mixed reactions on whether the practice should continue. Some believe that initiation ceremonies are part of cultural preservation while others regard them as sex-training camps which fuel risky behaviour amongst the youth.

Some initiated youths have also complained of wasting their time at initiation camps where they claim the key lessons are about how to perform sex in bed.

“There is nothing like cultural education at such camps, as the focus is on sexual education and the singing of obscene songs,” said one initiate.

She added that the so-called graduation from childhood to adulthood through initiation ceremonies focuses on how to have sex and lose virginity.

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123 Comments

  3. ANGONI Kkkkkkk amadana ndi ayaO,..machende azibambo anu .Stupid fall cntry koma mitseche dairly nyamako chende ndata samayi any and amene alemba zimnz

  5. In Malawi bad behaviour is the one leading its way into the society than good behaviour. No wonder we have all sorts of problems.

  13. Kkkkkkkkkkkk ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Eheeeeeeeeeeeeee ndikukhulupilira kuti mijomba inathawa apa. Mpaka zitendene kumagunda kunkhongo kananji yambiri ndiyamantha.

  15. In mangochi is where mbava Zambiri zimachokera end again. mamfumu ake nde zitsilu anthu okanika , Lake. Malawi in that District pipo are using as a toilet sheet Trible

  18. Foolish midjomba that’s why the were against the extension of learning hours in schools,they want these children to feast on each other in these camps,ha.

  20. Mmalo muphuztsa ana za ufumu wakumwamba ali bzy kuwauza zopusazo.akafka nazo kut anao.anthu tyn tzganza tkamafuna kuchta znthu pot tli mmasiku osliza.tyen nazo

  29. What’s wrong with you Mw Police? You don’t have other things to do there, Nowadays children are introduced to the sexial activities any where, It’s start in the social media s @ school&etc .Nowadays sexial activities are any where, zavuta ndi izo inu Ku thezo hamunankeko?

    1. Hayii! Naneso nditodabwa ati kuthezo kwaipa lero?? Even ana asankeko kutsimba, atowonerajebe ma porn movies baxi. But if this initiation camps tradition was originated from western world, then it would have been recommend as the best to practise

  31. This Is A Result Of Engaging Muscles While The Brain Is On Leave!!! The Camps Don’t Teach Anything/ Anybody- People Do!!! Both Teachers And Pupils As Well As All Stakeholders Are Intact!!! Use Gray Matter You……..!!!!

  32. Mmalo momuphuzitsa mwana how to respect the elder and how to work hard in class.mukumuphuzitsa mwana katopoledwe pochindana tinene kt pali chazeru apa? kkkkkkk koma anthu ena ndinu oseketsa.KUTCHINDA AMACHITA UKUKOZEKELA? AAAA UTCHINDA?

  34. kkkkkk ndiye zintchito za midyomba ndimaziziwa ine zimenezo!!. zokhuzana ndi zovulavulazi! ku mikisa mitengo ati yowonjezela mphamvu kuchipinda ndi zina ndi zina zokuzana kugonana ndiye amaphuzisadi Samayesa!!kkkkkkkk ndi Akatswiri pazimenezi za Sukulu alibe nazo ntchito!!kkkkkkkk mtundu osangalasa uwu!!kkkkkkkkkkkk.

  39. So Malawi police can’t arrest the albino murderers but going for burning down harmless initiation camps? Since when has this old practice become evil? Our traditions and cultures are always evil, right? And all western cultures are beautiful at the expense of our own right? If part of the schooling in the camp is to prepare them in bed performance for future married life, whats the problem there? Even without going to initiation camps, these children will still watch the porn movies on sophisticated gadgets from the western world. Wake up my fellow Africans and lets preserve our traditions and cultures. Where do the porn movies come from? From the initiation camps right? The half naked dressing by our young ladies, they are taught that kind of semi naked dressing in initiation camps right? Go and provide security to the citizens Malawi police and not burning down initiation camps.

  41. musawaphere ufulu , pajasotu kumangochiko mkazi wakumenekoko amatha,amakwanisa alibe mzake pachikondi chabe achedwanazo anzawo aliku school

    1. #Patricia Shakira Kaluma. Are u sure bed performance skills are rubbish? Our kids will learn these things anyway even without going kuchinamwali. They will still watch porn without our consent. By the way its not only about zakubedi, they are also advised how to behave well and what are their responsibilities in their communities. But if this culture was originated from the western surely it would have been recommend as the best culture to adopt

    2. Point taken, but still i don’t trust chinamwali..the problem is: once they come out of chinamwali,they behave trangerly…like kutukwana,and so many things that i can’t mention here…for me, i prefer sitting down with my kids and tell them one by one about my culture…

    3. Ok. Understood however Im still of the opinion that when the teens reach adolescent age, they always change behaviours naturally regardless as to whether anavinidwa chinamwali or not. Komabe ndakumvetsani

  45. MPINGO WA MUHAMAD AMBIRI NDI MBURI OSAVETSETSA.

    NDIZACHIDZIWIKILE KUTI KULOWA TSIMBA NDI NYAU NDIZOFANA KOMA ASILAMU AMATSUTSA CHOSECHO AMACHITAKO UFITI ASILAMU KUTSIMBA KWAWOKO.

    1. Robert mwandisangalasa man nsaname zikugwiritsana bwanj ndi chislam izi? Km nd makumvetsetsa chfkw kumangochi mumakutenga ngat ndi komwe kunachokera Aslam kapena nd kumchombo kwa chslam km mayaz sizimagwirizana komanso dziwan kut Chiyao sichipembezo

    2. Nthambi zidangochuluka koma zikuchoka mtsinde limodzi.
      NDAKULA NDI MITUNDU YONSE YA ASILAMU NDI AYAWO.
      Moti nyumba yanga yazungulizidwa ndi asilamu KOMA MSILAMU WINAYU AMANDIUZA BWINO KUYIPA KWA ASILAMU NDI UBWINO WA ASILAMU.

  47. I surpot it,chinamwali chokakhala ku ntchirechi chinali chakale dziko liri mphonje,koma matsiku ano palibe cha nzeruai,ana amangophuzirako chipongwe basi,mdulidwe sikukakhala ku ntchire ai,zakale kale basi.

  72. Burning is not a solution. They wil build another. Police have better duty to do than this. The solution is to address the issue to the Traditional Authorities to stop or face charges. Yes its their culture. But they need to understand the dangers of the activity.

  74. Where is Mngochi district in Malawi ? Never hered b4 that we got Mngochi district in Malawi. Maybe I missed the word there, can people help me to understand this sentence ( Malawi police officers in Mngochi district)????

  89. Kkkkkkkk nkhani ili apa ndikuyesa yesa kupeza njira zotukulila dziko lathu mwina nkumalandilako ma tourist ochuluka sinanga ma minerals dziko muno tilibe, kkkkkkkkkk.Apa pokha tayaluka basi asaaaa

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