In Mchinji District, the fight against child marriages has been ongoing for years, yet the problem persists. Some children are entering marriage as early as 12, and in some communities, the practice is becoming entrenched.
Group village head (GVH) Chiute from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlonyeni admitted that child marriages remain a serious issue requiring urgent action.
He attributed early marriages to the absence of pressure groups and limited authority for traditional leaders.
“How can we deal with the challenge when even traditional leaders are marrying off their children?” said Chiute.
GVH Mnjolo from T/A Gumba highlighted the economic and health impacts of early marriages.
He said children who marry too young often require caesarean sections because their bodies are not ready for childbirth, increasing government medical costs.
Martha Tsogolo (not her real name), 17, from Kauma Village in T/A Dambe, was impregnated by a fellow student last year while in Form One.
“I want to pursue my studies and become a nurse. Unfortunately, in my condition, I cannot,” she said.
Victims, particularly girls, often feel isolated and hesitant to return to their previous schools.
Tsogolo said she will attend a new school if given the chance to continue her education.
To tackle the challenge, timely intervention is necessary. In Mchinji, Girls Empowerment Network (Genet) is implementing Tilimbikitse and Kuteteza Ma Ufulu a Ana (Tikuma) Project funded by Norad through Save the Children.
The programme targets over 100 schools to reduce violence and child marriages, improve literacy and empower children to influence change in their communities.
Genet coordinator Chanda Chirwa stressed the importance of supporting victims financially.
“Through the project, we have introduced mobile courts closer to communities. This has been transformative as people now know that violations lead to imprisonment,” she said
