Authorities pledge to empower girls, end child marriages

Chikwawa authorities have pledged their commitment to promote the rights of girls and actively involve them in decision-making processes.

The commitment follows a petition they made during the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, organised by the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) at Ngabu in Chikwawa District.

During the event, the girls’ representatives Lydia Dzinkambani and Esnarth Binzi passionately appealed for an end to early and forced marriages and advocated for girls’ participation in district budget formulation and implementation.

They also asked Traditional Authority Ngabu to outlaw early and forced marriages to allow them to concentrate on their education .

In response, Chikwawa District Council chairperson Wyson Bushi acknowledged the importance of the girls’ concerns and took the initiative to sign a commitment form on behalf of his council.

The representatives from Traditional Authority Ngabu and the Nsanje District Commissioner also signed the agreement.

The district authorities have committed to several actions, including eradicating child and forced marriages, enacting bye-laws to penalise parents who force their children into early marriages instead of sending them to school.

They have also pledged to actively involve girls in decision-making processes, particularly in budget formulation and implementation.

AHF advocacy and marketing officer Davis Mwachumu expressed satisfaction with the commitments made by the authorities.

“As AHF, we are delighted that the girls have spoken out and presented their challenges to those in authority. They have clearly articulated the necessary steps to address these issues. What is particularly heartening is that our authorities have agreed to tackle these problems,” he remarked.

During the event, themed ‘Amplify Her Voice,’ AHF also distributed sanitary pads to local schools.

The International Day of the Girl Child serves as an opportunity to reflect on the challenges girls face in their communities and strive to find effective solutions to those issues.