Chiefs want strict by-laws to keep girls in school
Senior Chief Chikumbu of Mulanje and Traditional Authority (T/A) Zulu of Mchinji have urged their fellow traditional leaders to enact by-laws to prevent girls from dropping out of school.
The two women chiefs made the remarks at Zulu headquarters in Mchinji on Tuesday during a visiting tour by Mulanje chiefs aimed at sharing notes on the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) programme.
The two said enacting by-laws aimed at encouraging girls not to fall pregnant and getting married at an early age was the only way of keeping girls in school.
“It is sad that many organisations have launched programmes aimed at supporting girls education and as traditional leaders we have not done our part, and these girls still drop out of school due to early pregnancies,” said Chikumbu.
T/A Zulu said making parents pay fines such as goats, works as a deterrent factor and encourages girls to finish school.
During the tour, the chiefs, who were accompanied by Camfed district committee for Mulanje, shared notes with their Mchinji counterparts on challenges they face in the programme.
Camfed supports needy girls in secondary school by providing them with bursaries, learning materials and giving them grants for business when they finish education.
