On December 22, 2023, the Zambia n Parliament passed historic legislation making it illegal for individuals under 18 to marry, including under customary law. This decisive action addresses the country's alarming rate of child marriage, where 29 per cent of girls are married by age 18.President Hakainde Hichilema, during the 2024 Women's Day celebration, proclaimed,"Investing in a girl child today is an investment into a stronger woman tomorrow and in a stronger society.
Before the new law, Mwamba campaigned tirelessly from 2011 to 2021, witnessing the vulnerabilities faced by children, particularly in areas like Kapiri Mposhi district. Adolescent girls were often exploited by truck drivers, leading to high rates of pregnancy and related health issues. These experiences drove her to advocate for the Children's Code Act, finalized in 2022, which laid the foundation for the 2023 Marriage Act revisions.
Mrs. Hichilema emphasized the need for awareness campaigns to challenge harmful traditional practices and announced a mentorship program for young boys and girls. She pledged to advocate for ending child marriage nationwide and engage with chiefdoms about the new legal frameworks. Addressing child marriage is critical as it is both a cause and consequence of adolescent pregnancy. UNFPA, with funding from the Government of Sweden, is implementing the Gender, Adolescent Pregnancy, and Social Norms Programme, aiming to reduce adolescent pregnancy by 5 per cent in Eastern and Southern Provinces in Zambia by 2024.
Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)
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