Zambia, Zimbabwe delegates hail end child marriage project

Delegations from Zambia and Zimbabwe have hailed interventions aimed at ending child marriages Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (Cyece) is implementing in Mangochi District.

Speaking on Friday after being briefed on some of the interventions, the delegates’ representative Thokozire Banda from Zambia cited the involvement of traditional leaders, youths, social welfare officials and mother groups as factors behind the success.

“We are impressed with what we have seen. The inclusion of these key players in the fight against child marriages will help the NGO to win the battle against the vice,” she said.

Banda, who is regional chairperson for Young Women’s Network in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, commended Cyece for building strong referral systems within the communities.

“I can see a good working relationship among people at the community level and the district level. This is good because it ensures that no case of child marriages can be concealed,” she said.

Banda said they wish this could be replicated in other areas to help young women go to school and become productive citizens.

Group village head  Kwilasa from Traditional Authority (T/A) Namabvi pledged to continue working with fellow traditional leaders in ending child marriages.

“We will continue to enforce the by-laws on child marriages to keep girls in school,” he said.

Sakina Abdulrasheed, a champion from T/A Namabvi, also pledged to discourage child marriages.

Cyece executive director Lucky Mbewe thanked the delegates for visiting their interventions.

“We will strengthen our efforts in the fight against child marriages,” he said.

The NGO is implementing  the Ending Child Marriages project with funding from IM, a Swedish Development Partner.