Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
UMZINGWANE traditional leader, Chief Nomalanga Sigola, has declared war on child marriages, school dropouts and drug and substance abuse, vowing to work with schools, health institutions and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the social ills in her area.
Speaking in an interview shortly after her installation at Sigola Primary School last week, Chief Sigola said no parent or guardian should facilitate or turn a blind eye to the marriage of a minor, stressing that children must be protected from practices that threaten their future.
“We are not going to tolerate child marriages in this area. No parent or guardian should allow their children to marry before adulthood.
“We will preach this gospel in our schools and also visit clinics to establish whether underage girls are being admitted due to pregnancy, so that appropriate action can be taken against those responsible,” she said.
Chief Sigola said some parents and relatives allegedly remained silent when minors fell pregnant after receiving promises of financial compensation from the responsible parties or their families.
She warned that such conduct would not be tolerated, adding that communities must prioritise the welfare and protection of children rather than accept payments at the expense of their future.
The traditional leader also expressed concern over school dropouts, saying drug and substance abuse, coupled with financial challenges faced by some parents and guardians, were contributing to children failing to access education.
“Education is a right of every child in this country, and even our Constitution speaks to that. Those who may have financial challenges have an option of registering their children under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), a Government programme that pays school fees for the underprivileged, so there is really no excuse for anyone not to send their children to school,” said Chief Sigola.
