THE INSPIRING STORY OF THERESA KACHINDAMOTO, THE TRIBAL CHIEF, MALWA, SOUTH-EASTERN AFRICA

“Whether you like it or not, I want these marriages to be terminated.” … She told her sub-chiefs.

Probably most of us know the inspiring story of Theresa Kachindamoto, an well known tribal chief of Malawi, has successfully ended 850 children marriages.

Malawi, situated in south-Eastern Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world and is infamous for child-marriages and has HIV infection rate 10% of the population.To bring about a change in the country, which ranks 8th amongst the 20 countries, having highest percentage of child-marriages, was a difficult task. But Theresa did this impossible by stopping 850 child-marriages in the past 3 years.

Theresa Kachindamoto is the youngest of 12 siblings in a family of traditional rulers in Dedza District around Lake Malawi. She worked as a secretary for 27 years at a college in Zomba District. She married and became the mother of five sons.

The chief of Debza choose her as the next senior chief of the district with over 9,00,000 people in 2003. Her tremendous efforts to change the society have earned her international recognition and also the epithet “The Terminator”

The gutsy woman, a mother of five, quashed more than 850 child marriages and back them to school. The tough work was done by her because of her mental strength and efforts. Shr convinced other 50 sub-chiefs to abolish child marriages and annual existing ones.

A 2015 legislation raised the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18, banning child marriages in the country. Tradion and local customs, however supersede the law in many societies. Parents and family elders continued marrying off young girls. It was difficult to stop them. Theresa, who has been fighting for women and girl’s rights for the last 13 years in her capacity.

According to Girls Not Brides, 15 million girls are married before 18 every year. It is a global phenomenon not limited to a particular region, culture or ethnicity. child or early marriages are a human right violation exposing the child bride to health risks and often related to violence and abuse.

She organised a secret network of parents to monitoring villages and made sure that those children(who back to school) are in school and not pulled out again. Theresa worked with groups of parents, teachers, Village Development Committee, religious leaders,and NGOs. “I tell them: if you educate your girls you will have everything in the future.”  UN Women and UNICEF  plan to work with the traditional leaders. Efforts are being incorporated at institutional, community and family levels to understand the complexities of the child marriage in order to end the violation of human rights.

I think there would be significant changes if the political will and the commitment by national governments tackle the issues. One of the major milestone achieved this regard is the UN Sustainable Development adopted last year… GOAL-5 , includes eliminating child, early and forced marriages as one of the major targets by to “Achieve Gender Equality And Empower All Women And Girls.”

Theresa is blessed by God. May God protect her in all way. She is a role model that world needs.

“I said it is better for me to die and be unpopular, than let these children’s rights be violated.”…. Theresa.