Group village head Mwanjasi of Traditional Authority Kilupula in Karonga District says continued collaboration among community structures in his area has contributed to significant mindset change among parents who used to look at girls as sources of money.
| Elton Mhango
He made the remarks on Wednesday during an awareness campaign on child protection Future Planning for the Child conducted through theatre for development and football bonanza at Ngerenge School in the district.
He said: “The area experiences child marriages due to harmful cultural practices which lead to school dropouts. Again, child labour and child trafficking are rampant in the area
“However, with help from the organisation, we established community structures that are raising awareness on the evils of child marriages, child labour and human trafficking.”
Kaporo Police Post child protection officer Levison Mthawanji said police officers will join efforts to protect children from marriages, trafficking and labour by arresting perpetrators.
On his part, Kilupula child protection worker Mabvuto Mwashoghe said in 2025, the area registered 72 school dropouts while seven children trekked to Tanzania to work.
“However, through awareness campaigns, we are containing the situation,” he said.
The organisation’s programmes manager Mike Munthali urged traditional leaders to eradicate harmful cultural practices that fuel child marriages in the area.
“We used theatre for development and football because they are regarded as crowd-pullers to drive our messages home,” he said.
The organisation is implementing Building Awareness and Planning for the Future project with funds from Germany-based Kindernothilfe.
