Early marriages said to be fuelling poverty

Nsitu Ward councillor in Mchinji Edson Josiya has expressed concern over an increase in girls’ dropouts in schools in his ward due to early marriages and unplanned pregnancies.

Josiya said the development is derailing efforts to promote quality education in the country.

In an interview at Waliranji Community Centre in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mavwere in Mchinji last week during a community leaders meeting, Josiya said it is worrisome to note that girls are still dropping out of school despite various programmes to promote girls education.

“It is worrisome to note that girls are still succumbing to the pressure of marriage,” he said.

Josiya observed that girls in the area are vulnerable to early marriages due to tobacco and soya sales in the months of April, June and July, saying the money that circulates during this period acts as a bait for young girls to start relationships with men.

“Worse still, parents are also wooed by money from these men and consequently they marry off their wards [girls],” he added.

Josiya worried that child marriages rob girls of their right to education and often has devastating consequences on their health and well-being.

However, he said together with chiefs and other stakeholders, they will keep on making by-laws that would see early and child marriages curbed in order to increase school retention and transition rates in the district.