EAM decries lack of child support
Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) project coordinator Dumisani Nungu has condemned men who fail to support their children after marriage break-ups.
He said this on Wednesday after a mobile court session in Traditional Authority Kilupula in Karonga District.
During the court session, first grade magistrate Julius Kalambo heard cases involving men who fail to support their children.
Nungu blamed the situation on early marriages which are rampant in the district.
He said: “Young people get into marriages unprepared, which affects children’s well-being when they separate.
“We have established that most young men are not able to cover the charges for child maintenance due to poverty.”
Karonga district assistant social welfare officer Katoto Kamwera said they conducted 21 mobile court sessions in T/As Kilupula, Mwakaboko and Kyungu.
He said 20 of the 21 cases, involved child maintenance.
“Divorced mothers seek maintenance support from the children’s fathers and it is sad that most men stop supporting the children as punishment to the mothers,” said Kamwera.
He also said most of the parents are aged between 20 and 23.
“This is an indication that they got married before attaining the age of 18 and are likely financially unstable,” said Kamwera.
Besides affecting children when couples separate, early marriages also lead to school dropouts.
The courts are being conducted under Timazge Nkhaza Project with financial assistance from the Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid.
