Educate girl child,communities told

M’Mbelwa District Council director of education, youth and sports Fides Msowoya has challenged communities in Mzimba District to stop sending girls away to early marriages instead ensuring they remain in school.

She said this last Tuesday when a group called Mabulabo Community Development Council, also known as Friends of Mabulabo donated desks and iron sheets valued at K1.7 million to Kamwala and Echikhangeni primary schools Senior Chief Mabulabo.

Msowoya said there is a growing tendency in the district where parents value girls as a source of wealth.

She said: “It’s unfortunate that there are still parents out there who are still arranging marriages for their young girls with men who trek to South Africa in exchange for material gains.

“These men at the end of the day marry young girls here and leave them with children and go back to South Africa which is bad and should stop.”

In his remarks, the group’s chairperson Mahara Longwe said the items were bought with donations that members made.

“It is our hope that the items will help improve the quality of education at the two schools,” he said.