Fighting child abuse, early marriages

Dear Editor, IT IS good to note that there are so many organizations that have joined the fight to end child marriages and to stop child abuse. Government has been championing this fight with both the President and the First Lady being firmly in the driving seat.

Now that most traditional leaders have come on board, perhaps this fight may get more positive results.

On the part of government, it might be worth noting that, this problem can be fought by tackling poverty.

Most rural families force children, especially girls into marriages for economic gain.

The charging of dowry or lobola plays a major role. In rural setting, the payment is often in form of cattle and or goats where money is not available.

Thus parents and guardians look at their girl children as sources of income and rush them into marriage. However, with the involvement of traditional leaders, this is one practice will be defeated. As long as traditional leaders are tough and act against parents marrying off their young children, the scourge will be fought successfully.

It is sad that many girls have been forced into marriage with elderly gentlemen who abuse them and force them into motherhood at a tender a age.

This in itself, creates many other problems.

MOSES SILUNGWE, NGT, Lusaka