Zimba District Commissioner, Robson Mulamfu has observed that the fight against early child marriages in the area has remained wide-spread because of the absence of civil society organisations fighting the scourge in remote areas.

Mr Mulamfu charged that rural communities still require massive education and sensitisation on the vice if they are to be agents of change in their families and communities.

Mr Mulamfu challenged the church and other stakeholders to retrieve girl children from marriages.

The DC said this when Caritas Zambia Monze Chapter Director, Ackim Simuko paid a courtesy call on him at his Office today.

Mr Mulamfu noted that traditional practices, ignorance and poverty are some of the major setbacks towards fighting the vice.

He attributes the rising number of child and early marriages as due to children in communities being perceived as assets of income generation in most families.

He expressed concern that the continued rising cases where children are made brides at a tender age is an indication that there are still loopholes which need to be addressed in the fight against child marriages.

He noted that education of the girl child is critical to fighting child marriage, adding that it will also help to reduce teenage pregnancies in communities.