Chiefs Schooled On Ending Child Marriages
Kwelepeta said educating chiefs on how parliament works will encourage them to push girls to pursue their studies instead of getting married early.
ZOMBA, Malawi-Zomba Malosa legislator Grace Kwelepeta has started an initiative to empower traditional leaders in her constituency to lead efforts to end child marriages, writes Brenard Mwanza.
Kwelepeta said educating chiefs on how parliament works will encourage them to push girls to pursue their studies instead of getting married early.
"What will happen is that the chiefs will analyze everything they have learned here and then come up with bylaws that will help curb such marriages," Kwelepeta said Thursday at the parliament building in Lilongwe after hosting another group of chiefs from her area.
Group village headman Madi, who serves under senior chief Malemya in Zomba district, said they are concerned about girls failing in school and missing leadership opportunities.
"We have learned a lot here and when we get back home we will keep encouraging our children to study hard because everything we have seen here is possible through education," he said.
Zomba Malosa is the home area of Malawi's first female president, Dr. Joyce Banda.