A powerful and influential chief in Dedza has warned drastic action against parents who will marry off their children during the three-week Covid-19 holiday. Senior Chief Kachindamoto says she will deal with such parents in her area. She says she is focused on ensuring that boys and girls from her area at least complete secondary […]
A senior traditional leader in Malawi has ordered village chiefs to dissolve all the child marriages that took place during the Covid-19 pandemic so girls can return to classes when schools start reopening next month. Senior Chief Theresa Kachindamoto, a well-known campaigner against early marriage, said an increase in the illegal practice as well as […]
Kasungu-based local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Good Health organization (GHO) and Nkhamenya Mission have developed a user tool kit that provides comprehensive information and simplifies laws related to child marriages in Malawi. The user tool kit which has two versions Adult and Child Friendly is aimed at raising awareness on the existence of laws and policies […]
Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) says it is sending back to school 240 girls in Ntchisi who dropped out, including those who entered marriages but were eventually rescued under the organisation’s ‘Stop Child Marriage Project’. EAM National Director, Howard Kasiya said on Tuesday that the organization is targeting girls aged between 10 and 19. Kasiya […]
A mother of a 14-year-old girl who has just given birth in Machinga, is in police custody for marrying off an under-age girl. Machinga police spokesperson Davie Sulumba said the police have also picked the mother of the boy who married the girl when she was 13-years-old. “The boy has bolted when he knew that […]
Traditional leaders in the country have united in efforts to end child marriages in the country by implementing strong disciplinary measures for those perpetrating the vicea. Speaking in separate interviews following Inkosi Gomani V’s call last week for chiefs to diligently fight against child marriages in their areas, the traditional leaders have vowed to continue […]
Officials from the UN Women have revealed that they will extend a Women Economic Empowerment Project (WEEP) in Salima and Dedza, for a period of one year, with the aim of supporting girls rescued from child marriages. Briefing reporters in Salima on Tuesday after presenting the project to the district executive committee, UN women, elimination […]
World Vision Malawi (WVM) Wednesday unveiled eight “It takes Malawi to End Child Marriage” Ambassadors in Lilongwe. The eight ambassadors are Senior Chief Kachindamoto of Dedza, Inkosi Gomani of Ntcheu, Inkosi ya Makosi M’belwa V of Mzimba, musicians Faith Mussa and Patience Namadingo, Senior Chief Bwananyambi of Mangochi, Inspector General of Police (IG) Rodney Jose […]
Senior group village headwoman Mponera in the area of Traditional Authority Wasambo in Chilumba in the southern part of Karonga District, risks getting arrested and losing her chieftaincy for being suspected of abducting a young girl. According to allegations by the victim whose name has been withheld, she was in a relationship with the chief’s […]
An international religious body, United Religious Initiative, says it will raise the bar on the awareness campaign to deter the increase in early marriages in Malawi. In an exclusive interview with Nyasa Times in Lilongwe, URI Southern Africa Regional Coordinator Karen Barenshe said they will be implementing a ‘Girls Not Brides’ campaign to increase the awareness efforts nationwide. “We […]
Lack of parental commitment to end child marriages and unavailability of education sponsorships are frustrating efforts to curb this practice in Machinga District, traditional leaders have said during a legal clinic organized by Zanzibar University Muslim Graduates (ZUMUGA) which aimed at sensitizing chiefs on legal matters Sunday at Nanyumbu. The leaders, led by Senior Chief Kawinga, said the […]
Mchinji Social Welfare Officer, Rodwell Chunga, says the central region border district with Zambia continues to grapple with child abuse issues as his office is registering two cases every week involving defilement and child marriages. Chunga said the cases are not reducing in the district despite several interventions being taken to address the same. He […]
Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Dr Jean Kalirani hasdisclosed that the country has reduced the prevalence of child marriages from 50 per cent in 2015 to 42 per cent in 2017. Kalirani disclosed this during a news conference in Lilongwe held on Tusday on the progress made to ending child marriages in […]
First Lady Gertrude Mutharika has persuaded Malawians to be champions in protecting children especially girls who are often subjected to early and forced marriages. She was speaking on Thursday in Neno at Kam’mwamba ground during the launch of Ending Child Marriages. Madam Mutharika said all Malawians should be part of the solution to end child […]
World Vision Malawi says it is committed to scaling up efforts in ending child marriages in the country. According to the organization’s associate director of communications, advocacy, gender and child affairs, Charles Gwengwe, the effort is in unison with Oxfam, Plan Malawi, YONECO, UNFPA and African UNION. Gwengwe said their interventions compliment some of the […]
Traditional leaders in Mchinji have called for stiff punishment for parents who force their children into early marriages. Senior Chief Mkanda made the remarks in Mchinji on Monday after viewing a Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) film “The Child Within’ which explores the effects of early marriages and pregnancy from a child’s perspective. He said […]
A Standard Three girl from Kavuzi Primary School in Nkhata Bay District Friday wowed an audience with a poem titled Mama which raps society for enticing young girls into early marriages. Alinafe Chamba, 8, recited her poem on the tendency by some members of the society to call young girls “Mama” instead of their christened […]
Malawi and Zambia government officials on Friday engaged in a blame game on who was promoting intermarriages of girls below the age of 18 years. The finger-pointing ensued during an interdepartmental meeting between officials from the two districts of Isoka in Zambia and Chitipa in Malawi. Chitipa first grade magistrate Billy Ngosi sparked the discussion […]