FIGHT AGAINST ECM INTENSIFIED IN THE COUNTRY

By Kenson McCloud 

Breakthrough Action has expressed satisfaction with communities’ commitment in ending child and forced marriages in Traditional Authority Makhwira in Chikwawa.

The remarks were made following an engagement between stakeholders and group village headmen under Makhwira’s authority on the progress made in ending child marriages in their respective areas.

In an interview with Timveni , Community Mobilisation Technical Specialist for Breakthrough Action, Irene Banda noted that since the inception of the project, there has been an increase in the number of community members that understand the implications of child marriages on their community.

Banda says the community members are now more conversant with polices and laws that criminalise child marriages which has led to an increase in reporting cases of child marriages.

Breakthrough Action applauded the chiefs for implementing initiatives that ensure that traditional practices like initiation ceremonies are not in conflict with children’s education.

Banda further commended community leaders for taking the responsibility to support children who have been rescued from child marriages to return to school.

In his remarks, Traditional Authority Makhwira said the engagement has rejuvenated the chiefs’ commitment to curb child marriages in their respective areas.

T/A Makhwira interacting with subjects 

Makhwira said despite the project being implemented under seven village headmen only, but efforts are being made to spread the messages to the remaining subjects.

However he bemoaned financial constraints that have been a major blow especially in their efforts to re-admit children who have been rescued from marriage back into school.