Sun, 17 Dec 2017 12:10:09 +0000
By PETER MALASHA
A GRADE 6 pupil at Kagili Primary School in Mkushi has been plucked out of school by her parents and married off.
Mkushi District Commissioner Luka Mwamba has vowed to pursue the matter and ensure that the parents are arrested for marrying off a girl believed to be a minor.
Mr Mwamba said it was sad that some families could force a child out of school to be married off when the girl was still too young to handle marital affairs.
Mr. Mwamba said the act was barbaric and perpetrators of the vice would be brought to book and face the wrath of the law.
Mr. Mwamba vowed to follow up the case to its logical conclusion and ensure that the parents are arrested.
He said he will also see to it that the innocent girls got back to school to continue their education.
“The situation is sad and needs urgent attention. I will visit the school as soon as possible to ensure that culprits are punished to pose as a deterrent to would-be offenders. Its high time parents stopped marrying off girl-children at tender ages and respect their right to education,” the fuming DC said.
Mr. Mwamba also said his office will soon be working closely with the recently formed local based non-governmental organisation mandated to look into the plight of a girl-child.
A reliable source who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation told the Daily Nation that the recently married off Grade six-girl child was sixth in a row.
The source revealed that four Grade 7 pupils who qualified to Grade 8 at Upper Lunsemfwa Combined School this year were also married off.
