SEXUAL BARTER SYSTEM GAINS MOMENTUM IN EAST

CHIDYELANO, a traditional practice of exchanging wives and husbands for casual sexual during mobile markets locally known as Kabwandile in Eastern Province has gained momentum. The Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Chipata district traditional Affairs Assistant officer, Cecilia Tembo, says Chidyelano, attracts foreign nationals from Malawi and Mozambique. Ms Tembo disclosed this in Chipata yesterday, during the Zambia National Men’s Network for Gender and Development media breakfast. She explained that Chidyelano is a traditional practice which involves married men or women exchanging their partners for sexual pleasure. “We are hoping that with the coming of gender activism in communities, Chidyelano will be completely discouraged,” she said.  Ms Tembo said both married men and women usually have sex at the end of their business transactions in different trading places. She commended traditional leaders in the region for being champions in the fight against GBV.  Ms Tembo cited Chief Madzimawe as one of the Ngoni chiefs being among the many active traditional leaders fighting GBV cases in the region.  In 2019, Paramount Chief, Kalonga Gawa Undi of the Chewa people of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, banned Chidyelano to stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among his subjects, but merrymakers have ignored the ban.