Women stripped naked in Malawi for wearing trousers

On Tuesday 17the January 2012 in the city of Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi turned wild with Vendors who sell some wares in the city's streets stripping all women wearing trousers on that day.

The situation got worse as i witnessed two ladies, who were putting on decent office attire being stripped naked in front of men in the city's streets for putting on trousers. This has caused havoc among women in the city and Malawi as a whole.

Women activists have asked for the vendors to apologize for their stupid conduct. Malawi is a democratic country and people are free to put on what ever they like. Women are human beings just like men. They have all the freedom to dress any how, and choose to enjoy their clothes. Women should not be discriminated at when it comes to clothing.

In fact in Malawi, these vendors get assisted from women who buy their products on a daily basis starting from clothes, trousers as well. This does not make sense at all. Women are so afraid to walk down the streets of Malawi wearing trousers, because vendors are stripping any body they see wearing a trouser naked. I was coming down from another assignment at the market, when i met the vendors undressing women saying they must not wear men's clothes.

I did the story and reported live on my radio and it was sad. The two women had no one else to rescue them until one woman who was driving a Starlet car rescued the ladies but her was stoned by the angry vendors.

The Lilongwe incident should serve as awake up call to the fight the country started in protecting the rights of women. This can only be achieved if society's mindset is changed for the better.

Malawi and the rest of the world in December observed the 16th Day's of activism with a call to ending violence against women under the theme, From Peace in the Home to peace in the world.

Lets challenge militarism and end violence against women. The message is crystal clear, Malawi as a signatory to international conventions needs to protect women from some vultures that call themselves men.

Such behavior in my case is barbaric and should never be condoned else where in the world.
We are all human beings, we have the right to dressing, education, health, and have all that women and men need in their lives.

Meanwhile, a campaign has been launched in Malawi in which all women have decided to stop buying wares from the vendors for a month until they apologize to the women of Malawi...