. MUTALE

By MAYA  NTANDA –
AS the World commemorates International Women’s Day, under the theme ‘Inspiring Change, celebrating God’s favour on 50 years of women excellence and achievements’ a lot of women the world over and Zambia in particular have a reason to celebrate this important event.
In line with this year’s theme, today’s woman has continued to inspire fellow women, men, youths and children through various achievements scored be it politically, academically, economically and socially.
On the social front and with the advent of rampant gender-based violence (GBV) cases being recorded in the country,  Government, the Courts, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and individuals are working hard to assist victims in coping with their ordeals and ensuring that culprits of such vices are dealt with.
At individual level, one such woman that is inspiring victims of social ills, especially GBV victims and giving them hope to live and probably have a better life is Trauma Healing Centre (THC) executive director Jurita Mutale.
Ms Mutale heads the THC, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that assists traumatised women, men, youths and children in identified provinces deal with trauma after their experiences.
Ms Mutale, who has taken delight in joining fellow women commemorate this year’s Women Day activities recounts what makes her and the organisation believe the event is worth celebrating given the role they play in helping GBV victims explore their existing life skills and get back their way of life even better.
This is of the belief that a victim has to be assisted by way of coping with the trauma even after the experience.
Driven by passion and love for others, Ms Mutale, a paralegal officer, says having worked in the civil society and talking about people’s issues most of her life, she thought there was need to continue serving the people after she left Young Women’s Christian( YWCA).
Hers is doing it for others life after serving under YWCA for a long time and later worked for Times Printpak before going back to YWCA, Ms Mutale decided to continue serving others, especially women and came up with the idea of assisting victims deal with their trauma, hence the formation of THC, an NGO that is entirely her brain child.
It is that brain child that she decided to share her vision with others who were also considering giving a service to other people that led to the foundation of THC on September 23, 2012.
She says THC identifies the gaps in victims of GBV and other vulnerable people and believes most cases are all about trauma because that is what affects an individual.
“When I left YWCA, I felt  there was need to serve the people and I realised I would not be doing society any justice just to sit when people still need help, I get self-satisfaction when I assist someone, see them smile and that is what gives me a drive to work,” she says.
Ms Mutale says from November 2012 to November 2013, THC managed to explore and reach out to traumatized people by handling over 162 cases reported by women and 25 by men.
The cases ranged from marital disputes, defilement, property grabbing, child neglect and legal redress on various issues.
Ms Mutale said THC has also recorded cases from men and describes it as an indication that men were also opening up and making things move.
She says THC’s objective is to contribute to the reduction of violation of women, youth and children’s rights as well as provide counselling, legal advice and referral services.
This intervention is provided for through the drop in centre’s under various case categories like child neglect, marital, sexual abuse, and property grabbing and spouse battery among others.
“THC offers psychosocial counselling to help victims of violence deal with trauma and come to terms with their past, prepare for their future without additional burden and stress. We feel that attending to victims or survivors of GBV is not enough and requires being part of their holistic approach in bettering their lives,” Ms Mutale said.
The organisation also offers legal advice and referral to all those women and children who need legal redress.
She says what affects a woman also affects children and society at large and that there was a thin line with issues that affect a child and a mother.
Ms Mutale believes that women’s financial independence is a necessary security prerequisite for their exist from any form of abusive situation and that survival skill was one such financial support that provides women with self belief that they can exist independently from their abuser thus enabling them to envision peaceful alternative arrangement.
She says THC has trained women and youths in a programme known as Own Savings and Wealth Creation (OSAWE) and GET AHEAD project.
Under these projects, a total of 422 women and youths drawn from Kawama, Kamitondo, Twatasha, Buchi, Chimwemwe, Katembula, Luangwa and Ichimpe areas have been trained.
Ms Mutale is of the firm belief that some women are in relationship because of dependency syndrome and such projects would assist them to stand on their own by engaging in entrepreneurship skills.
She says as today’s woman celebrates their day, with Zambia celebrating its jubilee, 50 years is a long period of time and that each commemoration of the day should be a period of taking stock of the achievements and failures in all areas.
Ms Mutale commends Government for appointing a lot of women in decision-making positions, especially that the country has recorded an increase in the number of highly educated women.
She, however, raises concerns that issues of equality between men and women were still lagging especially on the political scene and cites Kitwe where all the Parliamentary seats are held by the men folk.
“From the five constituencies in Kitwe, we do not have a female MP to adequately represent the people, even at local government level, we only have three female councillors the whole district.
“The playing field in the adoption system has to be levelled for it to be 50- 50 per cent for both women and men because women are naturally born managers,” she says.
Ms Mutale further expresses concern on the distribution of land in the country with conditions which were not favourable to women and cites the tedious title deed process and that in most cases involving couples, property was usually registered under a man.
She advised on the need for both women and men to understand and appreciate each other, especially in areas of professionalism to avoid suspicions and conflicts.
Ms Mutale’s call is indeed, a do it for others service and inspires change in a lot of women and all victims of social ills.