14-year old girl rescued from marriage

A 14 YEAR-OLD-GIRL grade six pupil at Chandemena primary School in Luano district who was married off to a polygamist and prophet has been withdrawn from marriage.

Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Committee (NGOCC) and Women for Change paralegal officer Nicholas Macha confirmed the incident to the Daily Nation in interview. Mr. Macha who witnessed the withdrawal, said the girl was married to a 35 year old prophet, who already has three wives. Mr. Macha said the move had shocked community members because the girl was a minor and was still in school. Mr. Macha said it took efforts of Luano District Commissioner Christopher Chibuye to intervene and withdrew the girl from the polygamous marriage. Mr. Macha said currently the girl was back at school and re-united with her family. “Luano District Commissioner Christopher Chibuye intervened in the matter and managed to withdraw the girl from a polygamist who is also a prophet. The girl is now with her parents and has gone back to school in grade six." Mr. Macha said. And Mr. Macha has noted with concern rampant child marriage cases in the area despite sensitisation programmes. The paralegal officer said, the NGOCC and Women for Change organisations together with Chief Kanyenshya's Royal Establishment and relevant government departments were sensitising people on the ills of child marriages but the vice was still escalating. Mr Macha has since appealed to parents in the area to combine efforts with relevant authorities to stop child marriages.