Govt Sets August 31 As Deadline For Child Marriages

In an effort to ensure that child marriages have come to an end in the country, government has set August 31, 2020 as the deadline for the malpractice.

Honourable Patricia Kaliati minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare issued the order.

“By August 31, all child marriages should be terminated,” Kaliati said.

Kaliati further warned those that will not comply with the order that they will be arrested.

“This is a National deadline and those who will not comply, including parents will be arrested,” she warned.

In a related development, Senior Chief Kachindamoto who is well known for campaigning against child Marriages has instructed parents and chiefs to terminate all child marriages.

Kachindamoto’s directives comes at a time where schools are scheduled to reopen next month.

“We have been going in the villages advising people to take care of their children so that they can return to school when they reopen because that’s where their future is,” Kachindamoto said.

Since the schools were closed earlier this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, number of child marriages in the country has escalated.