PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has warned law enforcement officers against leaving Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases unattended to when survivors report.
Launching the 16 days of activism against GBV in Lusaka yesterday, President Hichilema stated that there was a tendency by officers of ignoring victims whenever such cases are reported.
He said GBV is a serious crime which must be treated as such by authorities and other stakeholders.
The President further urged the police and other law enforcement agencies to collaborate in the alleviation of GBV.
“Crime must not be left unattended to by law enforcement officers. When a daughter or niece reports then you ignore. If you don’t want your daughter to be abused, why would you be silent when someone’s daughter is being abused?” wondered President Hichilema.
“I don’t want to read my speech, I want to talk to you. I don’t tolerate Gender Based Violence against our women and girls and so it must be taken seriously. When matters are reported you as the police, please help.”
The Head of State urged survivors to not relent and report crimes to the police as soon as they happen.
He said further advised men and women to stop drinking alcohol as it was one of the leading causes of GBV.
“One of the reasons there are so many murder cases, is because they are under the influence of alcohol. I have never drunk alcohol, I have never smoked a single cigarette in my life and I used to tell my friends in school that the way you behave when you are drunk, makes you regret the next day. Under the influence of alcohol and drugs we can do strange things which we live to regret and takes us into jail,” he said.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence runs from November 25 to December 10 under the theme “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”
The campaign serves as a global call to action, renewing the fight against violence and advocating for a safer and more equitable society.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, November 26, 2025
