Africa-Press – Tanzania. MINISTER for Legal and Constitution Affairs Prof Palamagamba Kabudi is today in Dar es Salaam expected to grace the launch of anti-child marriage campaign, aimed at addressing early marriages in the country.
This was confirmed recently by Child and Women Rights Activist Dr Monica Muhoja, adding that time has come for men to stop marrying young girls so that they live their dreams in life.
“This early marriage which results into early pregnancy compromises with the health of teenage girls and at the same time cuts short their academic pursuit,” she pointed out. In explanation, she noted that the campaign was aimed at once again granting child marriage victims return to school, hence, urged non-governmental organisations and traditional leaders in communities to work with the government to end the malpractice.
“When early marriages are stopped, young girls will have ample time to go to school and complete their studies and become meaningful contributors to the nation,” Dr Muhoja said.
According to her survey, Tarime, Mvomero and Shinyanga rural areas have high numbers of teenage pregnancies, which should draw attention, adding that something must be done as soon as possible.
In detail, she cited poverty as the leading cause of early marriages in the areas, adding that some parents believe a girl child is raised to earn dowry and the big number one has in a family the bigger the bride price to get.
“We commend the government and non-governmental agencies for developing various programmes aimed at finding long lasting solutions to child marriages “Another contributing factor is the economic hardship in some families, forcing some parents and guardians to marry off their daughters to ease burden and dependency on them.
“Child marriage effectively ends a girl’s childhood, restrains her from getting education and competing in the job market, let alone putting at her at high risk of obstetric fistula at young age and HIV/AIDS as well as early pregnancy,” she pointed out.
