Video sparks GBV outrage as Mayor becomes second senior Malawi official caught harassing a woman
Blantyre City Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman has been caught on camera slapping a defenceless woman in Malawi’s commercial city of Blantyre. The video, shared widely on social media, has ignited widespread criticism from gender based violence advocates and the public, marking the second incident where a senior Malawi official has been caught red-handed harassing a woman without facing any implications.
The cause of the altercation remains unknown. The Mayor has not publicly commented on the incident which was captured during his Facebook live stream.
Social media reactions have been swift and sharp. Jerome Chisikwa tweeted: “This is not surprising coming from a career street kid. Anyone expecting different behaviour from Jomo just because he is mayor is naive. In functional societies like China, where every Jim cannot become a leader, Jomo wouldn’t even be fit to be a messenger in the mayor’s office.”
Seasoned journalist Jack McBrams, tagging the Human Rights Defenders Coalition and Malawi Police, tweeted: “I’ve seen a video doing rounds on social media of the Mayor of Blantyre Jomo Osman beating up a vendor. I have not verified this video, but should it be genuine, Jomo should be arrested. No one is above the law, not even the Mayor of Blantyre.”
Osman is the second senior government official to be caught on camera harassing a woman. The first was Vitumbiko Mumba, who made headlines when, during his tenure as Minister of Trade, he was filmed confiscating a mobile phone from a woman. Mumba later became the running mate of former President Lazarus Chakwera.
The incidents have reignited calls for accountability among public officials and renewed debate about gender based violence in Malawi, where women’s rights groups have long decried a culture of impunity for powerful men who mistreat women.
Another social media user predicted the incident would be swept under the rug. “Jomo will apologise and even make some donations to the woman, and we will go back to business as usual”.
Osman has close connections to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and was recently hosted by President Peter Mutharika at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre — a meeting that underlines his political proximity to State House and raises further questions about whether the Malawi Police Service will act independently on the matter.
Both the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Human Rights Commission are yet to act on the matter.
