Communities want more effort to fight child marriages

Communities in Traditional Authority Ndamera in Nsanje District have urged government and its partners to promote the fight against child marriages in the area.

Speaking on Friday at Lulwe Primary School, Ndamera child protection chairperson Peter Yalu said child marriages were causing school dropouts.

“Many girls are sneaking to neighbouring Mozambique were they get married. On our own, we are struggling to curb the malpractice,” he said.

Yalu thanked Parent and Child Health Initiative (Pachi) for terminating 25 child marriages and sending the girls back to school.

Lulwe Primary School Ifenso Club chairperson Sophia James said with the help from teachers, they reached out to 12 girls who dropped out of school.

“We convinced them to return to school during the next academic year,” she said.

Lulwe Primary School head teacher Joseph Mdokhwe said the Ifenso initiative has reduced the dropout rate from 25 percent to 10 percent.

PACHI Nsanje district coordinator Nenani Boaz said he was pleased that the initiative is addressing child marriages in the area.

PACHI is implementing Ifenso project to encourage girls to remain in school in Nsanje district.

The project under, the Spotlight Initiative,  is funded by the European Union.