Karonga DC rebukes child marriages

Karonga acting district commissioner (DC) Frank Mkandawire has condemned harmful cultural practices fuelling child marriages and teen pregnancies in the district.

He said this on Monday during a meeting with community leaders, health workers and parents from traditional authorities (T/As) Mwirang’ombe and Wasambo.

Mkandawire asked traditional leaders to be in the forefront in condemning harmful cultural practices.

“Community leaders have influence on the community, as such, they can utilise community gatherings to talk about measures of eradicating some of the cultural and religious practices that fuel early marriages and teen pregnancies,” he said.

Mkandawire also advised the traditional and religious leaders to encourage the youth to seek sexual and reproductive health services.

Speaking on behalf of Senior Chief Mwirang’ombe, Gertrude Munthali commended Kachila Youth Initiative Organisation for facilitating the training.

She said she will relay the message to traditional leaders in her area to reschedule the chibwaila cultural event from late evening to afternoon hours.

“I think it is high time we revised some of our cultural practices to address teen pregnancies and child marriages,” said Munthali.

One of the parents, Idah Nyirenda, said the training was an eye-opener as she learned how to help her children know about sexual and reproductive health issues.

Kachila Youth Initiative Organisation executive director William Ngwira said they wanted to equip community leaders with knowledge on how to deal with harmful cultural practices.

With funding from the United Kingdom-based Amplify Change, Kachila Youth Initiative Organisation is implementing Tubapoke Project in T/As Mwirang’ombe and Wasambo in the district.