Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V of the Maseko Ngoni and Deputy Inspector General of Police (Administration) John Nyondo have bemoaned escalating cases of child marriage in the country.
Gomani has threatened to dethrone chiefs that condone the malpractice while Nyondo has pledged to bring perpetrators to book.
They said this at an awareness campaign meeting on ending child marriages which World Vision Malawi (WVM) conducted in Kulanga Village, Traditional Authority Ganya, in Ntcheu District over the weekend.
At 42 percent, Malawi has one of the highest cases of girls that marry before attaining 18 years of age.
“Excuses will no longer be tolerated. Chiefs under my jurisdiction risk being dethroned if they tolerate such practices,” Gomani, who is the campaign’s ambassador, said.
Nyondo echoed Gomani’s sentiments, saying law enforcers would be on guard.
“Child marriages have been robbing girls of their future, apart from exposing them to social injustices and health risks. As such, we will ensure speedy prosecution of such cases,” Nyondo said.
In 2018, WVM launched the ‘It Takes Malawi To End Child Marriages Campaign’ which will run for the next five years.
WVM Director of Programmes, Charles Chimombo, said, so far, 1,000 girls had been rescued from early marriages.
Eric Msikiti is a Senior Reporter/News Producer at Times Group. Though relatively young, Eric boasts years of experience in Malawi’s media industry.