Chief Pembamoyo has instituted by-laws to curb the vices of teenage pregnancies and early marriages in Vubwi District in Eastern Province.

This is in alignment with other traditional leaders, such as Chief Zingalume of Chadiza District, who have joined the fight against adolescent pregnancies and early marriages in order to promote education in Eastern Province.

The chief, who has since November 2025 withdrawn 11 girls from unlawful marriages, emphasised the importance of education to young girls.

“We made sure that before schools could open, all these girls had to be out of marriages, we don’t want to see any child getting pregnant or married at a tender age,” Chief Pembamoyo noted.

In an interview with ZANIS, the Chewa chief sounded a strong warning to would-be perpetrators of early marriages in his area.

“We will punish the parents, together with the headman who will be found promoting early marriages,” he said.

“Both parents and headmen will be watching each other to make sure that no child gets pregnant at an early age or married otherwise,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Vubwi District Commissioner (DC), Given Sakala, commended the move by the traditional leadership, describing it as progressive.

The DC appealed for enhanced collaboration between stakeholders so as to achieve a 100 percent reduction in teenage pregnancies and child marriages.

“We need every child in school, let’s work hand in hand to make sure that they benefit from free education by staying in school,” he lamented.

Zambia has since 2023 made strides in addressing the vice of child marriages with the introduction of the marriage amendment act, which prohibits anyone from getting married before attaining the age of 18.