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Salima District Council to end child marriages

Salima District Council in partnership with World Vision Malawi plans to terminate child marriages in the district to send the children back to school.

In an interview, Salima district social welfare officer Fedda Mbwana said they want to protect children from abuse, including early marriages.

She said: “It is government’s wish to have all children in school.

“So, we will not relent on our efforts until we withdraw all children from marriages.”

World Vision Malawi Salima district manager Thokozani Chibwana said they were complementing government’s efforts to ensure children get education.

“We want to protect the future of children in the district,” he said.

Students back in school

In a separate interview, Senior Chief Kalonga said he was concerned with the situation.

He said: “Traditional leaders have said the children went into marriages after schools were closed.

“However, I am pleased that the council and World Vision Malawi plan to end the marriages.”

The chief  warned parents and guardians who allow their children to get married that they will face the law.

Ellina Asamu from Traditional Authority Kalonga said some girls married because they thought schools would never open soon.

“However, I urge traditional leaders to formulate by-laws to protect girls from early marriages,” she said. 

A report from Salima District Hospital indicates that the facility registered about 6 000 teenage pregnancies between January and August this year.

Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati ordered traditional leaders in the country to terminate child marriages and send them back to schools.

Schools reopened last week for examination classes for primary and secondary schools learners and for final year students in colleges and universities after they closed in March this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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