MWAPE MWENYA, Lusaka
GOVERNMENT is delighted with the recent statistics of early marriages and teenage pregnancies that have reduced from 68 in 2014 to 42 percent in December 2015 in Luwingu district in Northern Province.
District commissioner Patrick Chanda has attributed this to intensive sensitisation campaigns in communities by Government and non-governmental organisations working in the area.
“Last year, I managed to withdraw three girls from marriages and took them back to school. We have always encouraged parents not to treat girls as inferior by marrying them at a tender age,” Mr Chanda said.
He said in an interview that parents or guardians who are found wanting are made to do manual work for three days at the chief’s palace as punishment.
Mr Chanda said many parents have since become conscious of the consequences of marrying off young girls.