YESTERDAY'S march past and commemoration to kick off the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence was significant in many respects.

Not only does it raise awareness but it also exposes the extent of violence especially against women so that the vice can be brought to an end.

The negative impact of gender-based violence on national development and the general social well being of individuals and communitiesis enormous andquite devastating.

The nature of the violence is one that brings shame on the victim such that many of them choose to die in silence, while others are left in trauma making it impossible for the victims to participate both in private and public life.

Furthermore, gender violence exposes the victims to the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, which is already decimating populations in the productive age group all over the world, leaving countless orphans.

This year's theme, "Commit. Act. Demand. We can end violence against women" should spur nationals to act against gender-based violence and speak out whenever and where ever such sordid acts occur.

In this vein, we echo sentiments made by President Rupiah Banda that the Gender-Based Violence Bill must be finalised so that it can be enacted in Parliament in order to protect women and children and ensure gender equality.

We need as a nation to match our words with deeds.

The Government has already shown the way by amending the Penal Code so that stiffer punishmentis meted out to perpetrators of violence.

The Government has also enacted the National Gender Policy creating a suitable regulatory environment in which to tackle violence against women.

We, therefore, have no excuse to delay the enactment of legislation against gender violence.

Gender-based violence must never be tolerated no matter in what form it comes.