The capital city of Malawi Lilongwe has seen cases of child marriages increasing in recent months in the areas of TA’s Njewa, Malili and Senior Chief Tsabango.
Probation Officer for Child Justice Court in Lilongwe, Benjamin Chunga said this Saturday during Ending Child Marriages Mobilization campaign meeting at Traditional Authority (TA) Njewa’s Headquarters in Lilongwe.
Chunga said some of child marriages are being arranged by families were the children are coming from as such, Social welfare office is struggling to withdraw the children from such marriages.
“With the currently situation, School drop outs have increased in the three areas of late. We have tried to engage the traditional leaders to take the message to discourage such marriages but it appears the messages are not reaching the intended communities,” he said.
He added that different initiatives were implemented to reduce these marriages but they have proved nothing.
Senior Group Jana admitted that case of child marriages are many in his area and once they are discovered the marriages are dissolved.
He said the most common challenge that the area is facing that most marriages are discovered when the girl child is already pregnant.
“We normally don’t allow them to continue with the marriage and parents of the girl are given the responsibility of looks after their child and after giving birth she is usually encouraged to return to school,” Senior Group explained.
last February, three child marriages were all dissolved and they were all children learning at Njewa Primary School.
Meanwhile, sensitization meetings are being conducted to educate communities to report issues of child marriages and sexual exploitation within their areas.
