By NORMA SIAME –
POLICE in Mbala have arrested a couple for collecting dowry and marrying off their school-going underage daughter to an older man.
Northern provincial education officer Nero Mwanapabu said the young girl had been retrieved from her matrimonial home and taken to Kasama by a team from the provincial education office that was dispatched to verify if the marriage had taken place.
The girl is being kept at a transit home for children in crisis while waiting to be moved to another care home in Lusaka where she would be able to continue with school.
“We have so many cases of early marriages in the province which has contributed to the poor performance in examinations by pupils in the region,” Mr Mwanapabu said.
He cautioned parents from being tempted into marrying off underage or school-going children as they would face prosecution if discovered.
He also encouraged young mothers who had dropped out of school because of pregnancy to take advantage of the re-entry policy and complete their education.
The couple under police custody in Mbala is expected to appear in court soon.
