Chiefs call for speedy alignment of marriage laws

TRADITIONAL leaders in Binga have implored Government to fast track the alignment of marriage laws with the constitution to curb the increase of early marriages and teenage pregnancies in the district, arguing that the delay was putting them in limbo in curbing the practice.

Binga has rampant cases of early marriages and school drop-outs due to teenage pregnancies.

Speaking in an interview recently, Senator Chief Siansali said delays in harmonising the marriage laws with the Constitution was contributing to the increase in early pregnancies and marriages while rendering the traditional leaders ineffective in combating the scourge.

“Early marriages need strong legislative support, last year we heard of the alignment of the marriage laws and again that would touch on the issue of age of consent to marriage.

“We are still having challenges as traditional leaders whereby the Act and the Constitution are not speaking the same language.

“The age of consent still remains at 16 whereas marriage is at 18. So, what do we do with the two years, a child has consented at 16 and thereafter anything can happen. The law does not allow them to get married and that becomes difficult,” said Senator Chief Siansali.

He said since there was no enabling law protecting the girl child, affected families would connive and settle matters behind the scenes by paying lobola.

“As a result of the conflicting laws most cases are not being brought to light as affected families would connive and make lobola payments behind the scenes thereby perpetuating early marriages. So, we call upon the Government to quickly align the laws so that we protect the girl child.”

Chief Dobola said as part of ensuring that village heads and headmen in his jurisdiction were not complicit in the marrying off of girls, he was facilitating training programmes for them on girl child rights.

“It is no secret that traditional leaders have no knowledge of such cases or also participate in the problem by not reporting it.

“What I have done is to facilitate training on such issues by inviting gender activists and NGOs to teach them on what the law says and the effects of early marriages on the girl child and development.

“We work with organisations such as Basilwizi Trust and Zubo Trust who are into women empowerment.”