THE high number of child marriages in Zambia is indeed a crisis. Admittedly, the high percentage of girls being married off before reaching the age of 17 years in Zambia is indeed a reflection of a crisis.
To this end, I am of the view that the current law regarding children under the age of 16 years in Zambia will help in recording a reduction in child marriages by 2015.
Yes, I am in agreement with calls for the introduction of a new law to criminalise child marriages to help curb the vice.
However, it must be noted that the enactment of the Law, if at all it will to be enacted, may take a while.
It is in this regard, therefore, that I feel even using the current Law, significant progress can still be recorded in fighting child marriages.
With the help of the traditional leaders to help report such cases, I am confident that significant progress can be achieved.
But what does the Law say with regard to children under the age of 16? Well, the Law is very clear.
The Law states that having carnal knowledge of a child under the age of 16 is defilement.
Admittedly, this simply put, means that any person who takes a girl under the age of 16 as a wife will be charged with defilement once discovered.
In this regard, the police spokesperson Charity Chanda, speaking during the week, said the police will not relent in enforcing the law.
Further, the police spokesperson explained that any parent, who is discovered to have willingly given away their child under the age 16 into a marriage, will be charged as an accomplice.
Admittedly, I was also impressed to learn that the police were working closely with communities, schools, civic leaders and traditional leaders, in sensitising them on the dangers of child marriages.
I have no doubt that with the support of the traditional leadership and all stakeholders involved in the fight against child marriages I am sure there will be a reduction in child marriages.
In this regard, I was impressed with the stance taken by Chief Chipepo of Gwembe District who called for the punishment of men involved in marrying underage children in his chiefdom.
The chief took the step after area district commissioner Alice Mwinga reported that four grade eight girls from his chiefdom aged 13 had been married off by their parents.
However, I am of the opinion that the social ill (child marriage) would not have escalated if the country’s social welfare system was designed differently.
In this regard, I am of the view that key professionals in the Social Welfare System such as social workers are being under-utilised in this country.
Agreeably, in developed countries a social worker is found in all communities, police stations, in almost all schools, hospitals, prisons in fact they are in almost every organisation in different parts of the country.
But what do social workers do? Admittedly, social workers help individuals, groups or communities to restore or boost the capacity for their social functioning.
In a synopsis “social workers” who are sometimes referred to as “change agent’s” help improve people’s lives. Among other things they also help educate communities as well as help people cope with personal problems.
In developed countries for example, they save as the link between a child’s family and the authorities, while in communities they are the link between families and the authorities.
These are just some of the things that social workers do. It is in this regard that I feel they are not really been utilised in this country.
Yes, if they were, I do not really think the statistics on child marriages would have escalated to the current alarming levels.
I am confident that working with other stakeholders Social Workers if fully utilised would help the country adequately root out this social ill.
To this end, I call upon stakeholders involved in the fight against child marriages to unite.
The girl-child, especially in rural areas needs protection.
For comments nanamufaya@gmail.com.