BBC recently shared a special report featuring a middle aged HIV positive Malawian man, Eric Avina, whose responsibility is to conduct “sexual cleansing” for underaged and also matured women in Nsanje district in southern Malawi. Avina in his community is referred to as
Hyena, a traditional title given to a man hired by communities in
several remote parts of southern Malawi to provide what’s called sexual
“cleansing”. Teenage girls, after their first menstruation, are made to
have sex over a three-day period with Avina to mark their passage from
childhood to womanhood. Alvina has now been arrested.
A government spokesman told BBC Africa that Aniva was
arrested on Malawi President, Peter Mutharika’s orders and would be
prosecuted for violating children’s rights. The spokesman also revealed
that the president was disturbed by the revelations made in the story
and has vowed to crackdown on the cultural practice.