Chief Commends Kalumbila Parents For Reduction In Early Marriages

Chief Mumena of the Kaonde-speaking people in Kalumbila district has commended parents for helping to reduce the number of child marriages and early pregnancies in the chiefdom.

Speaking during a phone interview in Solwezi on Saturday, Chief Mumena said parents were increasingly refraining from giving their children away in marriage and that this was having a positive impact on children in the area.

“A girl child has a hope a future and needs to be safe guarded by encouraging them and changing their mindset,” he said.

However, he warned that while parents were no longer offering their children up for marriage, many children were being encouraged by their peers to elope. 

The traditional leader therefore praised the programme run by the Kansanshi mine for working with local children to help them understand the importance of education, dubbed ‘books before girls or boys’.

Chief Mumena appealed to all stakeholders to keep children busy and productive so as to deter them from early marriage or pregnancy. 

Zambia continues to have one of the highest child marriage rates in the world, with 42% of women aged 20 - 24 married by the age of 18.