The Malawi Chapter of the Rural Women\’s Assembly (RWA) ended a teen marriage in August 2022 in front of the teenagers\’ parents and Group Village Head Makwale in the Traditional Authority Mabuka in the Mulanje district.

It all started when two teenagers, aged 13 and 16 and who attend the Tuthama Primary School and Mulanje District Chibati Primary School respectively, began dating.  When the parents discovered that the relationship was of a sexual nature, the decision was made to offer their daughter to the boyfriend\’s parents as a bride.

Catherine Chimenya, the Chairwoman of the Rural Women\’s Assembly in Mulanje District, said in an interview that they organised a meeting with parents on both sides to talk about the issue even though they knew that marriage before the legal age is against the law. They decided to end their marriage and send their children back to school after deliberating on the matter.

\”We divorced the couple in front of both sets of parents and the group Village Makwale. We have also agreed that those parents who approve of such unions will suffer the consequences,\” explains Chimenya.

Meanwhile, the group\’s village headman Makwale expressed gratitude to the RWA women for their assistance in rescuing the teenagers and urged them to continue helping since the district\’s number of cases is still rising.

“Due to poverty levels and the fact that some girls are being forced into marriage, it is very challenging for us to dissolve these unions, despite the fact that RWA is doing their best to assist young girls in our district,” Makwale said.

In his remarks, he issued a warning to all parents in his community that anyone found guilty of allowing a child under the legal age to marry would face punishment under the village\’s bylaws.