Help fight child marriages, chiefs’ spouses urged

The First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa has urged chiefs’ wives to work towards eradicating early child marriages in their communities.

Child marriages remain a cause for concern especially in rural areas and the First Lady implored chiefs’ spouses to protect the girl child from the scourge.

Amai Mnangagwa also urged the Chiefs’ wives to utilise the recently launched Women Empower Bank to achieve self-sustenance in their communities.

In a speech read on her behalf by the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Jennifer Mhlanga, the First Lady said the government is implementing initiatives that will see the girl child have equal opportunities in all spheres of her life as a way of empowering them.

“Our girl child has many obstacles ranging from non-completion of higher education, being used to appease spirits, being married to very old men against their wishes and many more,” she said.

The First Lady further called upon the chiefs’ spouses to work for the development of their communities and ensure food security at household level by producing small grain varieties.

The chief’s wives welcomed the interface and thanked the Amai Auxillia Mnangangwa for the initiative which they said will go a long way in improving the lives of the rural women.

The interface comprised chiefs’ wives drawn from Matabeleland North, Midlands and Matabeleland South provinces.

The Minister of State for Bulawayo Province, Cde Judith Ncube and her Matabeleland South counterpart, Cde Abednico Ncube were also part of the guests.