Mothers of girls withdrawn from early marriages in Traditional Authority Ndindi in Salima District have acquired soap-making skills to enable them generate income to support their children. Luso Langa Community Organisation facilitated the training on Monday, targeting 25 mothers. In an interview, one of the mothers, Lucy Palisoni from Khokhokho Village said the skills will empower her socioeconomically.
She said: “My 15-year-old daughter became pregnant in 2024 while in Standard Seven. “My husband and I did not want her to go into marriage because she was young. So, we engaged mother groups to help terminate the marriage.
Therefore, the skills will enable me generate income to support my daughter and her child.” A mother group member Khumbizeni Bozo from Justin Village said they have always discouraged child marriages in the area. She said: “When parents marry off their children, we enlighten them about the dangers of child marriages. In the end, they accept the advice and we terminate the marriage.
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“It does not just end there. We also recommend the girl to return to school after giving birth, if she became pregnant in the process.” Luso Langa executive director Dineless Chikapa said they focus on teenage pregnancies and child marriages. “Addressing poverty is one of the solutions to prevent child marriages and teen pregnancies.
Therefore, empowering caregivers and mothers to have reliable income sources is crucial,” she said. Mother groups and other stakeholders terminated 12 child marriages in the area in 2024
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