Source: Post Zambia
The government has expressed concern at the high rate of child marriages in rural Itezhi-tezhi district.

Children, especially girls as young as 12 years, are being pulled out of school and married-off by their parents or guardians in most parts of Itezhi-tezhi.

Speaking during the Ikubi Lya Chishi traditional ceremony held at Itumbi Palace in chief Kaingu's chiefdom in Itezhi-tezhi, district commissioner George Sichula said child marriages were inimical to the women empowerment programmes introduced by the government.

"As we celebrate this colourful Ikubi Lya Chishi traditional ceremony, I wish to report that as government, we are not happy at the high rate of child marriages being recorded in various chiefdoms in Itezhi -tezhi," he said.

Sichula said child marriages had the potential of reversing efforts being made in providing equal education opportunities for girls.

He said pulling girls out of school perpetuated poverty.

Sichula pointed out that it was wrong to marry-off children as young as 12 years because they were not mentally, physically and psychologically prepared for the responsibility.
"Government is committed to ensuring equitable access to education by all gender but this practice of early marriages is costly and defeating government efforts in empowering girl children," he said.

Sichula observed that child marriages, if not checked, could be a serious threat to human rights and the well being of children.

"Early marriage denies children an opportunity to grow and empower themselves, denies them an education, health, protection and development," he said.

"These children with low education are more likely to experience violence by their partners who mostly are older than them. They are also not able to talk to their husbands because of some cultural practices and this is bad in this age of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS."

Sichula has since appealed to traditional leaders in the district to help stamp out child marriages.

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