Francis Banda of Matewere Village, under Traditional Authority (TA) Juma in Mulanje District, vividly recalls the days when fighting gender-based violence (GBV) meant walking long distances on foot.
“Group Village Headman Manyumba oversees 22 villages, and they cover a vast area. I used to spend so much time walking from one village to another following up on GBV cases. It was not easy,” Banda recounts.
He remembers one particular case involving a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly defiled by a man from Sumani Village. The suspect fled soon after the incident.
“When I received the report, I went straight to Sumani to investigate. The girl was a learner at Thawale Primary School, and the man had escaped to Ntchisi,” Banda explains.
Determined to pursue justice, Banda made countless trips between Matewere and Sumani villages to ensure the suspect was held accountable. But without reliable transport, each follow-up was a daunting journey.
That changed in January 2020, when Banda and nine other male champions under TA Juma each received a bicycle through the Comprehensive Action for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) project. The initiative, implemented by Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) in partnership with Christian Aid and financially supported by the Global Fund, has transformed how local volunteers respond to GBV cases.
“The bicycle has made a big difference,” Banda says. “I can now move easily between Matewere, Sumani, and the police station. Recently, I heard the suspect has returned, and I’m ready to follow up to ensure he faces justice.”
Pedalling for change
Another male champion, John Basali of Group Village Headman Wendewende, says his bicycle has allowed him to reach more people with awareness messages on GBV.
“In TA Juma, there are 102 group village heads and 194 villages. Where I live, there are 14 large villages. Before, it was difficult to reach all of them, but now mobility is no longer a challenge,” says Basali.
“In February 2020, I conducted an awareness meeting at Thawale Primary School in Sumani Village.”
For Grant Chitseko of Manyumba Village, the impact has been equally profound.
“Before, it could take us up to two weeks to follow up a single case after receiving reports. Now, we can respond almost immediately,” he says.
Expanding the reach
The same story of transformation echoes in TA Mabuka.
Shadreck Malola, a male champion from Group Village Headman Misanjo, says his bicycle has enabled him to reach distant communities like Mphuso, where he has helped terminate two child marriages.
“The girls are now back in school at Misanjo Primary. Without the bicycle, that would have been impossible,” says Malola proudly.
Chairperson of male champions in TA Mabuka, Mphatso Mpatana, agrees that bicycles have made their mission much easier.
“I live at Misanjo Trading Centre, which is about three kilometres from Machokola in Namtombozi. It was tough walking such distances to follow up GBV cases. Now, with a bicycle, I can respond quickly and consistently,” says Mpatana.
For these men, bicycles are more than just a means of transport—they are tools of empowerment and justice. Every journey they make represents a step closer to safety for women and girls, and a stronger stand against gender-based violence in their communities.
In areas where rough terrain and long distances once silenced survivors, the sight of a bicycle now signals hope and action.
