Mzimba moves to end child marriages 

Mzimba South district social welfare officer Bernard Nangwale says they will intensify the fight against child marriages in the district.

The move follows reports from Mzimba South social welfare office that the district has recorded 301 child marriages between January and June this year.

Speaking on Saturday at Jenda Trading Centre during commemoration of the Day of the African Child, Nangwale said they will partner traditional chiefs to terminate child marriages.

“Records at the office indicate that we registered 301 child marriages between January and June this year. I ask chiefs and community members to formulate by-laws to protect girls from early marriages,” he said.

Nangwale said they will encourage girls withdrawn from early marriages to return to school.

Church of Central Africa Presbyterian’s Synod of Livingstonia Education Department Mzimba district coordinator Lovemore Kutani said there was need for collaboration to end child marriages in the district.

“We also need to empower people at the grassroots to eliminate child marriages,” he said.

Chamayembe Primary School learner Sibongile Mshanga blamed harmful cultural practices for early marriages.

“We need support from government and other partners to end child marriages,” she said.

A community member, Elias Nthara, said there was need to scale up child-protection activities to save many girls from dropping out of school.

Day of the African Child was held under the theme ‘Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practice since 2013’.

The event was supported by Synod of Livingstonia’s Education Department, Early Childhood Development Department, Save the Children, Feed the Children, Purple Innovation and the Spotlight Initiative as well as the synod’s Aids Programme.