Police and a Non Governmental Organization in Namwala district of Southern province on Tuesday rescued two primary school girls from early marriages in chief Nalubamba’s area.
HODI Project Support Officer, Godfrey Mumba, who confirmed the incident to ZANIS, said the two girls were in grade seven when they were forcibly removed from school.
Mr. Mumba said the two named girls aged 14 and 15 years respectively, were forced to stop going to school by their parents so that they could be married off.
He identified the two ‘husbands’, who are in police custody, as Kebby Kayayi and Kelison Shamalinyanga, both aged 20 years old.
The duo has been charged with defilement and their trial will commence soon.
Mr. Mumba bemoaned the increase in the number of early marriages in the district and called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to fight the practice.
He said more sensitization efforts were needed if the vice was to be stamped out in the district.
He however expressed confidence that the training of traditional leaders on sexual and gender violence and the formation of the district sexual and gender violence committee would help reduce cases of early marriages in the district.
ZANIS
Good work NGO, Police You should even summon the girls parents.They are the ones spearheading the vice in our lovely Zambia.Ukutumpa sana…..
Good work by the police mawanu ukupwa mu grade 7