In accelerated  efforts to end child marriages, President Edgar Lungu says Cabinet is considering harmonising the law to seal gaps in sexual rights and marriage. For instance, the legal age to consent to sex is 16, while the legal age for marriage is 18. And traditional leaders have asked Government to revise upwards the age when one can get married from the current 18 to 21 years.

Speaking at State House yesterday when he met four chiefs who had travelled to Nigeria and Malawi to attend meetings on ending child marriages, President Lungu said Cabinet will adopt a strategy to address child marriages in the country. “Through the ministries of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs and Justice, we will give life to the concerns that have been raised so that they can be addressed,” he said.

The President called for the abolishment of archaic traditional practices that frustrate the fight against child marriages. Mr Lungu said there is need for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that women and girls are economically empowered. “As long as women and girls remain economically disadvantaged, problems such as early marriages will continue in the country,” he said.

The President said Zambia has made great strides in ending child marriages, and chiefs must take the lead if the numbers are to reduce further.
Mr Lungu said reducing child marriages is not good enough because he wants to see the country record zero cases of child marriages.
And Chief Chamuka, who spoke on behalf of other traditional leaders, asked Government to change the law to revise upwards the age when one can get married from the current 18 to 21 years.

The traditional leader said at 18 years, most girls are still young and in school, and, therefore, not ready for marriage. “It’s high time we created a new Africa to benefit future generations,” he said. Chief Chamuka suggested that an indaba be held at which traditional leaders will be in attendance to strategise on how to completely end child marriages, early pregnancies and other traditional practices that disadvantage girls in the country.
“Enough is enough with issues of child marriages, genital mutilation and child pregnancies,” he said.

Chief Chamuka said during the meetings, chiefs acknowledged President Lungu’s efforts aimed at ending child marriages. He said traditional leaders want zero tolerance against child marriages in Africa. The other traditional leaders present were Chief Madzimawe, Chief Chikwanda and Chieftainess Muwezwa.

The President later met a delegation from China International Water and Electric Corporation who expressed interest to invest at Batoka and Kalungwishi Hydro Power Stations through a private-public partnership.