A 25-YEAR-OLD man, his father and a marriage agent have been arrested for allegedly attempting to marry off a 14-year-old grade six female pupil. George Sichone, his father William Sichone, 65, and marriage go-between Bitony Simwanza, 54, all of Isoka district, were arrested on Saturday. The victim’s father Ponda Sichembe is on the run.

The victim, a pupil at Mutonda Primary School, is said to have been defiled by unknown people. It is believed that the girl stopped attending school after her family started the process of marrying her off. This prompted district education board secretary Ginno Sichilima to report the matter to the police. Muchinga Province Commissioner of Police Joel Njase said in an interview yesterday that the three suspects were arrested after police officers found them having a marriage meeting at the victim’s house.

Mr Njase said police officers found Simwanza presenting three chitenge materials, a goat and a local beer to the victim’s family as bride price. “After police officers observed that there was a marriage meeting, they decided to arrest the three suspects but the victim’s father is at large,” he said. Mr Njase said investigations into the matter have continued and that the three arrested suspects will appear in court soon. Isoka District Commissioner Evenwell Mutambo is concerned that the area has continued recording cases of child marriages. Mr Mutambo said this is despite the massive sensitisation the school authorities and the village headmen have embarked on.

He said the district has recorded about 10 cases of child marriages from September last year to date. Mr Mutambo said the district administration is doing everything possible to ensure a reduction in the number of child marriages.