For two days, early marriages that lead to school dropout loomed large in Mchinji District during the Children’s Parliament deliberations which debated issues affecting their welfare.
They have since called on the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare to implement strong actions to end child marriages in the district.
In her remarks, Mchinji Children’s Parliament speaker Deborah Ezekiel asked relevant authorities to intensify efforts to address factors that fuel early marriages.
“This is not the first time we are debating this. We have done this so many times and nothing is changing. This time we want our concerns to be taken seriously and acted upon because these are issues
affecting us as children,” she said.
The children also asked the ministry to improve access to healthcare by constructing health facilities within walking distance of communities.
Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Principal Secretary Oliver Kumbambe said the government will use the concerns and proposed solutions raised by the children to address challenges affecting them.
He said children’s participation enables the government to understand challenges directly from children and develop appropriate solutions.
Said Kumbambe: “The government hopes to increase resources for children’s participation and interventions to address challenges affecting them.
“The government has a National Strategy on Ending Child Marriage, which seeks to strengthen efforts to eliminate the malpractice.”
Save the Children senior manager for advocacy, campaigns and communication John Chipeta commended the government for its efforts to end child marriages.
He called on Mchinji District Council to incorporate issues raised during the Children’s Parliament into its development plans and budgets.
Mchinji District Council vice-chairperson Esnart Chitawo urged area development committees to take the children’s views and suggestions into consideration
