‘LET’S FIGHT EARLY MARRIAGES’
RISING cases of early marriages in Southern Province is a matter of great concern, says Zambia Scouts Association Southern Division chairperson Robby Zulu.
Mr Zulu said that the vice had negatively impacted on the young girls who wanted to pursue education.
In an interview with the Daily Nation in Livingstone, Mr. Zulu said the association would soon embark on a sensitization programme to highlight the dangers of early marriages.
Mr. Zulu said that the association has a long list of Girl Scouts who had been married off either by their parents or guardians.
“We have concerns in the division as we have recorded a high number of cases of early marriages, this is an issue that is troubling us.
“We have therefore decided to take up the matter by embarking on a sensitization programme to highlight the bad effects of early marriages in the region,” said Mr Zulu.
He told the Daily Nation that as a result of marrying off girls not ready for marriage, a number of problems had been created later on.
“When these girls are married off, they get exposed to so many problems because some of these men are used to sleeping around with many women. The men end up infecting these small girls with diseases.
“Another issue is when these girls fall pregnant, they usually have difficulties in giving birth because they are still young. This has contributed to high cases of marriages breaking up,” he said.
Mr Zulu said that there was need for communities in the region to know the dangers and effects of early marriages.