A total of 34 girls who were married off early have been retrieved from their marriages in Chief Mishoro of Kasenengwa district in eastern province.
Mishoro community Anti Gender Based Violence (GBV) vice chairperson Isaac Nthele says the retrieved have since enrolled in schools in their respective communities.
In an interview with ZANIS Mr Nthele ,who is also headman Chitewu, revealed that the dissolution of the forced and early marriages was complemented by the Break Free Project under Chisomo community program between January 1st 2024 and October 31st 2024.
” For this year 2024 alone, of course with assistance from Chisomo community program and the break free project, we managed to retrieve 34 girls from early marriages in our chiefdom and they have since enrolled back into school,” he said.
He commended the project for training members of the community in mindset change programs through the outreach initiative.
” We want to thank the project for their efforts in the chiefdom because there has been change of mindset when it comes to early marriages in the chiefdom due to the programs trainings and sensitization programs and meetings,” he said.
He reassured the girls of full support from the chief Mishoro IV and Anti-(GBV) office in the area, adding that all reports of stigma involving the girls will be met with serious consequences.
And Chief Mshoro IV commended break free project by Chisomo community program for spearheading programs to end early marriages in the chiefdom
The Chief who spoke through Anti- GBV chairperson Phanwell lungu, called upon government and well-wishers to assist their operations with office requisites as the office has no furniture, mode of transport and stationary to execute mandates effectively.
He reminded the girls that the government has reintroduced free education in order for young people to be educated and become financially independent.
