THE problem of child marriages will equal that of HIV/AIDS, if not tackled now, Chief Mumena has said.
Chief Mumena of the Kaonde-speaking people of Solwezi said early marriages posed a serious threat and had potential to equal or surpass the HIV/AIDS pandemic if left unchecked.
Chief Mumena said at the weekend that child marriages were increasing at alarming rates and spiraling out of control particularly in rural communities.
“It is a scourge and social evil. If left unchecked, this will be more than HIV/AIDS,” he said.
Chief Mumena has since implored stakeholders at every level of society to team up with a common goal of eliminating child marriages.
The traditional leader said that massive sensitisations were being carried out during community meetings in his chiefdom to ensure that the vice was stopped.
Chief Mumena said child marriage affected the socio-economic development landscape of the country in that it deprived the girl-child, education levels needed for her to positively contribute to national economic development. -ZANIS
