Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people says traditional leaders have no control over early child marriages because the practice hinges on the human rights of an individual.
And the Paramount Chief has proposed an amendment to the Witchcraft Act so that traditional courts are given standards of how to deal with cases involving suspected victims.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said at his Palace in Mungwi district today that the concept of early marriages does not exist because it was the human right of the individual to marry at whatever age they desired to adding that this was beyond the control of traditional leaders.
The Paramount Chief was speaking when the Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission led by Justice Frederick Chomba paid a courtesy call on him at his Palace.
Paramount Chief Chitmukulu challenged non-governmental organizations to help traditional leaders find solutions to early marriages as opposed to merely being armchair critics.
He rejected the suggestion of amending the law on marriages as a deterrent to curb the growing practice of early marriages especially in rural areas and argued that what was instead required is the provision of social welfare amenities to keep the children busy.
“Early marriages don’t exist, in what context are you referring to early marriages, because traditional leaders have no control over them, it’s a human right of the child to marry when they want to”, said the Paramount Chief.
The Paramount Chief was responding to a question by journalists that accompanied the Commission to the Palace on the prevalence of early marriages in rural areas and the role that traditional leaders should play to curb the vice.
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Chitimukulu says the Witchcraft Act should be amended so that local courts should be given acceptable standards of dealing with cases involving suspected victims.
The Paramount Chief said currently there are a lot of complications surrounding the handling of cases involving witch craft allegations adding that some presiding leaders are not even aware of the Witchcraft Act hence the need to amend the law to avoid embarrassing judgments passed as a result of ignorance.
“Witchcraft issues are the most difficult to deal with by chiefs and traditional leaders , the problem is that it gives lee-way to witches because when one is called such, they take advantage, but sometimes there is confession, so we should be allowed to hold kangaroo courts”, he said.
And the Paramount Chief submitted that there is need for legal seminars to be conducted for traditional court justices for them to have some knowledge on some aspects of the law so that they understand the parameters to avoid embarrassing judgments.
He said traditional court justices should have some standard knowledge of court judgments at traditional level adding that they therefore need to be regularly updated on the law because they come from diverse backgrounds.
The Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission was on a five-day tour of the northern province where it held public hearings in Mbala, Kasama, Luwingu and Mungwi from July 13 to 17, and will tomorrow travel to Munchinga province for similar meetings in Chinsali, Isoka, Nakonde and Mpika starting on Monday July 20 to Friday July 24.
Very disappointed indeed in what the chief has to say.
Children should be protected by law as these same Chiefs have failed to do so.
I think it’s time we reconsidered the role of chiefs in our country as they add little value to their subjects.
Under 23 were playing good game today, you didn’t write nothing.
You busy planning to sleep with minors, because a chief has no control.
How do you define early marriage? its that involving someone below 21 yrs but above 16! dont mix up defilement with this. a 16 yr old girl is allowed by law to marry but every adult knows that she is still immature (both physically and psychologically). these are kids who are supposed to be in school/colleges than running petty homes with 2 pots. this is beyond the jurisdiction of a chief, parent or NGO but the government to enact a law preventing early marriages.
And I say amen to that!
It is now understandable why Sata didnt want to install him as chief. Hope he is not thinking of marrying off his children early?
what about me who married a 40 years old lady when l was just 16 years old and we re leaving with four kids. just use insuko u will be testing like a sweet sixteen. akoni kakela pamusambo ketemenwe.
This is a very important issue affecting our future generations, so we should not gloss over it. Lets talk solutions, solutions solutions.
A proper research to establish the root cause of early child marriage based on facts and figures should be done. Possibly with the assistance of UNESCO to make the results legit. Anything short of this is speculation and hunches.
…they may not have the control but certainly they have a role to play….if early marriage is defined within the context of the law…I don’t see any difficult in controlling the vice…..defilement is up to 16yrs of age…so any body marrying anyone below that age shall be committing an offence…. that were our tradition leaders can help….
for those who are 17/18/19(school going age)….all marriage proposals/arrangements must go thru or presented before the headman/chief….for their consent….after asking the girl child privately if she is for the idea of getting married…if she says NO…then no marriage must take place….
…on witchcraft….first there has be a way to prove the act….not just hearsay….our judicial system fundamental requirement requires evidence…proof beyond reasonable doubt….until that is established….even tradition leaders will mostly be erring in their judgements…..very old men and women shall be victims of these kangaroo courts….they need to be protected…its different when there is self confession…..
There is no such thing as witchcraft. Witch craft is a pillar of illiteracy, and pipo should be sanitised on this unnecessary hinderenc to development.
I concur with the Chief. Nkandu Luo should be made to shut up! Everybody has a right to marry at whatever age they want, it’s human right.
And also to drink beer at say 9 yrs old.?
Chitimukulu is right. The early marriages debate is one sided focussing on the girl child. Suppose the boy is also under age then who is defiling who? The solution is rather social than legal. Even western societies went through this phase and were only able to find the solution by protecting both sexes.
GRZ should insist on a programme to educate designated chiefs. You have illitrate pipo controlling illiterates. It is interesting to note Africa and Paupa newguine is where witch craft beliefs are more prevalent and these are the most backward places in the world
what chief chitimukulu has said is the way to go. lets put measures in place that can help young parents. our children are marturing at an early age and start having those feelings. stopping them is not a solution because it will increase un wanted pregnancies. our children are victims of body feelings they have no control. imagine last night 8 pupils were having sex in a class room.
You wonder why Sata refused to recognize Mr Sosala? Surely even an imbecile knows why children should not be marrying. You can tell by those long articles he pens that the man is nuts. Maybe he wants to marry a juvenile himself
Age of consent around the world (google)
“In Europe, countries who have the age of consent set at 16 include Cyprus, Finland, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland. For Austria, Germany, Portugal and Italy it is 14, and in France, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Greece it is 15.17 Nov 2013”
Please note that in some of these societies children mature very fast both mentally and physically. Besides they have better healthcare systems able to help children survive when they are having children. With a lousy healthcare system children having children will just add to the number of maternal deaths.
The chief must know that these human rights he is preaching go with obligations. How can a 12 year old child claim to have a right to marry at that age?
The Chief has just confirmed what I have always said he was a psuedo/fake intellectual. His comments on early marriages are so banal I can only shake my head in disbelief !! The man should be dethroned
This is absolutely insane and really floors me. How about having laws and people follow them. If you defile an under age child whether a girl or boy you go to jail. We’re here to protect children and the reason they can’t vote or drive because they are children. Let them enjoy life being children by giving them a chance to mature and enjoy life as children. Child marriage often means an end of education for girls and a major barrier since most young girls fall pregnant and actually contributes to poverty having one income in the household or none if the husband died. Education is the only tool to enable girls to avoid early marriage and fulfill their potential. If girls are able to stay in school, the benefits are widely felt. This encourages pedophiles and rapists in our society.
This is absolutely insane and really floors me. How about having laws and people follow them. If you defile an underage child whether a girl or boy you go to jail. We’re here to protect children and the reason they can’t vote or drive because they are children. Let them enjoy life being children by giving them a chance to mature and enjoy life as children. Child marriage often means an end of education for girls and a major barrier since most young girls fall pregnant and actually contributes to poverty having one income in the household or none if the husband died. Education is the only tool to enable girls to avoid early marriage and fulfill their potential. If girls are able to stay in school, the benefits are widely felt. This only encourages pedophiles and rapists in our society.