COMMUNITIES IN MACHINGA GETS EXCITED OVER BREAKTHROUH PROJECT EXTENSION

By Kenson McCloud 

Extension of a Break through Project on ending early and forced marriages project has excited communities in Machinga district.

This follows the decision to add four more beneficiary villages of the project namely Likoswe and M’bwabwa under Traditional Authority Nyambi and Maganisya and Chibwana under Traditional Authority Kawinga.

In an interview with Timveni, Group Village Head Mangaunosya said that there is need for collaborative efforts from community members and stakeholders in the fight against child marriages in their areas.

GVH Mangaunosya expressed optimism the coming in of the project will greatly reduce cases of child marriages.

Mangaunosya said time has come for the communities to realise the importance of educating their children other than forcing them into early marriages.

While welcoming the development, Senior Assistant Officer at the district’s Social Welfare office Charles Kazembe has however requested Breakthrough to consider adding more villages on the list of beneficiaries considering the depth of the problem in the district.

On her part, programs officer for Breakthrough, Nancy Kamwaza expressed optimism that the extension will bring a positive change in the newly identified villages.

Kamwaza said there is need to reach out to more people with the initiative saying the problem of child marriage is very big in the Machinga district.

The project which is currently being implemented in Machinga and Chikwakwa is being funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) .