EARLY MARRIAGES IN CHONGWE WORRY TRADITIONAL LEADER

 

By NOEL IYOMBWA IN Chongwe

A traditional leader in Chongwe says parents are marrying off their girl children at a tender age then faking their ages to avoid being prosecuted by the authorities.

Speaking during a men to men strategy on gender based violence training programme in Kasisi, Christopher Mwila the Kasenga Resettlement Area chairperson said instead of taking them to school, many parents are marrying of their under age girl children sometimes to older men to avoid the responsibilities.

He disclosed that cases of gender based violence were also a source of concern in the area.

Mwila said that most GBV cases are not reported because of the vulnerability of most women in area.

"Early marriages and gender based violence cases are ripe here in the resettlement area. Many parents fail to take responsibility of their girl children hence they marry them off at young ages. The other concern is GBV cases in this area. Many men abuse their wives but the cases are unreported and sometimes when reported, they withdraw cases because of poverty," he said. 

"But with such trainings for men and women it can change the narrative. Information is vital in this case because men and women are able to know what is good and bad in terms of GBV."

He called on parents to stop marrying off their children but take them to school because government has introduced free education for all.

Mwila further implored women and men to report cases of GBV to relevant authorities to avoid loss of lives. 

Meanwhile, Zambia National Men's Network for Gender psychosocial councilor Fridah Phiri said effects of marriage were huge on the girl child.

Phiri said early marriages were a source and drivers of gender based violence.

"These children do not even understand what marriages are all about and in most cases these marriages are not even stable and drivers of GBV. A girl child in early marriages is also at a risk of getting sicknesses and challenges when it comes to delivering. In most cases children being born from early marriages end up in the streets," she said.

Phiri expressed concern at the high number of early marriages and GBV cases in Chongwe district.

She said that there is need for massive senstisation in the area. 

Speaking at the same function Zambia National Men's Network for Gender Based Violence national coordinator Nelson Banda observed the increase in the number of suicide cases among men as a result of them not speaking out.

Banda said men were also victims of gender based violence but fail to speak out whenever there are going through GBV in homes hence resort to taking their own lives.

He urged men who are victims of GBV not to shy away but report such cases to the police adding that ZNMNGD helps such people.