Chief Chipepo punishes parents behind early marriage with farm labour

By Ann Zulu

PARENTS in Chief Chipepo’s area in Southern Province who allow their girl children into early marriages shall be sentenced to no less than six months intensive manual work in other people’s farms.

Chief Chipepo warned that perpetrators of early marriages would be forced to undertake some farm work to punish and shame them and as a deterrent to such marriages. 

The traditional leader told this reporter in an interview that, although there has been a reduction in child marriages in his area, the practice still remained a significant concern requiring continuous attention.

“I have put in place strict measures to end early marriages in my chiefdom, but the notable one is where I have given orders if a parent forces or allows their young girls into early marriage, they will be punished to do work in other people’s fields for a period of not less than six months,” he said.

“Even though there has been a decrease in the number of child marriages in my area, the vice has to completely end and I am confident that with such strict measures, my chiefdom will have no cases of early marriages. Girls should have same privileges that boys have, they have a right to go to school as well, and they have a right to choose who they would like to marry when they are older.”

By using his powers as a traditional leader, Chief Chipepo said he will continue to ensure that his subjects desist from acts that violated the rights of young girls, and urged other traditional leaders to scale up their efforts and ensure that young girls are protected in their chiefdoms.

“As traditional leaders, we have a pivotal role to play in eliminating child marriages in Zambia. It is time to intervene as traditional leaders and steer the community into knowing the rights of children. We must end this vice before it destroys our girls and our country as a whole,” Chief Chipepo said.