Mkushi chiefs commended for fighting early marriages

-Mkushi District Commissioner (DC) Luka Mwamba, has commended traditional leaders for their efforts in the campaign to discourage early marriages.

Mr Mwamba told ZANIS that his office was pleased with the role   chiefs such as Chitina and Mulungwe are playing in upholding Government’s stance on early marriages.

He, however, admitted that the problem of early marriage was still worrying in Shaibila chiefdom as this area has had no chief since 2009.

The DC said the absence of a chief in Shaibila contributed to the lack of supervision from traditional authorities towards the efforts aimed at curbing the social scourge.

Mr Mwamba also revealed that witchcraft related fears at Mishingo Primary School had been harmonized.

Last week, teachers at Mishingo Primary School had threatened to abandon work following alleged witchcraft practices from within that community.

Early marriage concerns were also expressed by Mwalala Ward councillor, Benford Katiti, of Luano district.

Mr Katiti said his area needed concerted efforts to sensitise the community on early marriages.

He mentioned that the problem was chronic in the area as girls as young as 14 years old were being married off despite being of school-going age.

He further appealed for multi-sector stakeholders to come on board and help strengthen the sanitisation campaigns against early marriages.