A case of a girl saved from servitude

At the age of 17, Ruth Banda (not her real name) has seen and lived it all. She has being forced into marriage, worked a domestic help for no pay, as a prostitute with no place to live, and has contracted the worts of sexually transmitted diseases within the past three years.

She is now a reintegrated young girl who has a roof over her head and an education to see through. Thanks to Salvation Army.

Much as her story may sound familiar, Ruth’s experiences with life have been sore and heart-rendering. Coerced out of her parents’ house to be forced into an early marriage, she says she had nowhere to go and thought she was lucky when a stranger women her parents called her ‘aunt’, promised to take care of her back in town in Mchinji district.

She comes from Zomba district some approximate 380 kilometers away.

In excellent English, the girl narrated her story before a gathering of participants made of Minister of Gender, Women and Child Development Honourable Patricia Kaliati, government departments and NGO heads, school children, other invited guest and members of the press.

“My parents are alive but are not employed and we lived hand to mouth as they struggled to feed 7 children. We could go on an empty stomach that our school performance dropped – forcing my grandparents to suggest I be married off.”

“My uncle brought a 47-years-old man for a husband. I left bitter, good for nothing and my family and the community threatened they would disown me. I was about to seat for my Primary School Leaving Certificate,” she starts, drawing interest from the stone-quiet audience.

After persevering for some time, her friend introduced to her a daily morning concoction in order to attract other men. That was the first time she engaged into prostitution and had multiple sex partners and a lot of beer. She later ran away from home.

“My sister in Dedza failed to support me and I dropped out of school. When a woman came to offer me a job in a restaurant I obliged. She promised to pay me MK3,000 per month and that she would let me go to school in the afternoon hours. I was happy but soon discovered these were all lies,” she narrated.

Her employer turned out to be a beerhall businesswoman who took her to pub ‘to work for a while’. As time went, she asked to transport back home but this, including the salary, were denied.

“I was forced to sleep with as many men as I could. Some older men as I was afraid my employer would kick me onto the street. However, my colleagues encouraged me persevere as they said I would sooner or later get used to such life,” she added.

Ruth soon fell sick and was denied medical attention.

“I was kicked out as I deteriorated and told to go and die at my village. I had not a single penny. Lucky enough that night a social worker from the salvation army were patrol and they offered to take me to their drop-in centre.”

“I was given food, shelter, medical attention and was enrolled in a government school. I finally had a meaningful new lease of life.” she explained.

A few months later, Ruth was reintegrated into her family. Her parents regret their action and promised to help her with her needs and education all the way.

“I am in Form 1 now and the Salvation Army assists me with school fees, clothes, pocket money and other needs. When I complete my education, I dream of becoming a social welfare worker so that I can assist others in the same predicament,” she concluded.

It was then revealed that there are some high-profile cases of human trafficking and that a Mrs. Lorenzo in Lilongwe’s Area 47 was one of the traffickers.

A tycoon working with the Malawi revenue Authority, a Mr. Kachingwe, was also arrested for trafficking two unsuspecting girls.

In her remarks, a touched Kaliati said she hoped Ruth’s parents would be prosecuted for what they did and that despite the 16-year-old consensual marriage age Bill in the offing, parents are still responsible for the welfare of their children.

She also bemoaned the tendency by some women who allow their husband to sleep with their biological and stepdaughters.