Kavango West education directorate reports four child marriage cases in two years
The Kavango West education directorate has recorded four child marriage cases over the past two years, with the most recent involving a mother allegedly attempting to remove a girl from school for marriage to an older man. Education director Pontianus Musore stated that both the parent and the man were arrested in this case. Two other cases were reported in Ncuncuni and Halili last year, leading to arrests. Another case in 2024 in the Musese constituency was handled by a social worker without police involvement. Musore emphasized that schools are regularly informed about child marriage and encouraged to report cases to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare for intervention, as it is classified as gender-based violence. He noted that while cases are often reported directly to the ministry, these four were first brought to his office by schools. Child marriage affects both urban and rural schools, with poverty, economic hardship, lack of parental guidance, cultural practices, and child-headed homes identified as contributing factors. A 2022 report by the gender ministry indicated that the Kavango East and West regions have the highest prevalence of child marriage at 39.7%, with the earliest age at first marriage or cohabitation estimated at 11 years. Nationally, the prevalence is 18.4% for girls and 4.1% for boys. Local leaders, including Kavango West's Ncamagoro constituency councillor Thomas Rengi and Ncuncuni constituency councillor Michael Naiteta, have condemne
