The Sadc Parliamentary Forum’s first public lecture in a series to honour the late Chief Theresa Kachindamoto of Dedza District happened last week at the University of Zambia in Lusaka.
During the talk named after the fallen Ngoni chief, who terminated thousands of child marriages, Zambian lawmaker Christopher Kalila urged governments, traditional authorities, legislators and activists across southern Africa to draw inspiration from her courage, conviction and proactive strategies.
Delivering a public lecture on Monday last week, the chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, said the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) can learn powerful lessons from uncompromising child-protection crusade by the chief buried in Mtakataka, Dedza.
“Kachindamoto of Malawi was “a leader who refused to look away when girls’ futures were being stolen,” he said
The Sadc Parliamentary Forum (Sadc PF) convened the lecture with funding from Sweden in partnership with Zambia’s National Assembly, Uniza’s School of Law and Care International.
Kalila gave a poignant recollection of the deceased chief’s early life that he said shaped her destiny.
“When Chief Theresa Kachindamoto was still a young girl, she saw a 13-year-old child with a child,” he recounted. “The sight of a child with another child… had a profound impact on the young princess and strengthened her resolve to one day make a difference.”
That experience, he said, ignited a lifelong determination to protect girls from harmful practices normalised in her community along Lake Malawi.
She convinced over 50 village heads to act against teen pregnancies and child marriages, the seemingly tolerated form of sexual exploitation in Malawi.
“What are some of the things that she did which have inspired many people? Kalila asked. “It is reported that she would sometimes move around her village looking for child brides.”
Working with a team of elderly mothers, she rescued child brides and annulled about 3 500 child marriages.
She terminated some marriages publicly to send a strong message to would-be offenders.
Kachindamoto ensured every rescued girl return to school and she mobilised support for their education.
Kalila stated: “She firmly believed that educating a girl was educating a whole nation. She believed that with education, anything was possible for any girl.
“She pronounced bylaws in her chiefdom that prohibited sub-chiefs and village heads from allowing or presiding over child marriages. Those who did not listen were sacked.”
He urged government and community leaders to emulate her leadership and create practical ways for girls to stay in school until their dreams come true.
“She provided leadership. This is particularly important… She punished those who went against good practices. She
Health Rights, HIV and Aids Governance Project.
He says Kachindamoto’s approach exemplifies the obligations of modern parliaments.
“As members of Parliament today, we must put in place laws that would prevent child marriage. Those laws and policies must, of course, be implemented.”
Kachindamoto participated in the formation of the Sadc Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage.
The regional guidebook illustrates how the regional parliamentary group leverages data and local voices in the formulation and implementation of relevant laws.
Kalila stated: “The chief recognised that laws must be accompanied by community mobilisation. She realised that it was not good enough to simply rescue girls… She used community meetings to create awareness. There is no panacea for child marriage and no one can end it alone.
“We must collaborate with religious and traditional leaders… civil society organisations, the media, policymakers, international partners and so forth.”
The parliamentarian paid tribute to the chief for diligently verifying the age of girls and women before marriage.
Kachindamoto insisted on vetting the age of any woman who wanted to marry, a call for national authorities to support birth and ensure every marriage is recorded.
“To end child marriage, we need to work together. We need strong leadership. Without political will and support, nothing can be achieved,” he said.
In Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema is the African Union’s champion against child marriage.
“Investing in a girl child today is an investment into a stronger woman tomorrow and in a stronger society,” said the Zambian leader.
Before his comeback in the September 16 presidential election this year, Malawi leader Peter Mutharika spoke against widespread child marriages as a He4She champion. He signed into law the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill of 2015 and the 2017 Constitution amendments which outlaw marriages involving children below 18.
However, the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey released this year shows over a third of children still marry and become mothers before their 18th birthday.
Kachindamoto is on record to have said she wanted the marriage age raised to 21 so girls can learn and meet their full potential.
Kalila revealed that Chief Kachindamoto is earmarked for an honorary doctorate in recognition of her life’s work and bravery.
*Magadza is the Sadc Parliamentary Forum’s media and communications manager
