Malawians have hailed President Bingu wa Mutharika (pictured) for refusing to sign the Constitutional amendment bill into law that allows Malawian girls to marry at the age of 16 with consent from their parents.President Mutharika has refused to sign the bill into law and has promised to take the bill back to parliament for reconsideration, according to a statement from the office of the Speaker of Parliament.
We commend the President for his resolute action. The bill was oppressive on the girl-child, rights activist Goodwin Mwangonde told Nyasa Times.
Timothy Nundwe a Malawian lawyer based in Qatar wrote on discussion forum, Nyasanet: Lets all congratulate the Ngwazi [Mutharika]- for listening to the people who elected him.,
The Speaker said in a media statement that the proposed law, dubbed the Chidyamakanda bill, has not been assented by President Mutharika.
Rights campaigners vehemently condemned the recent passing of bill by parliament after it was presented in the National Assembly by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Prof Peter Mutharika.
But after a heated debate against the bill, President Mutharika promised to have wide consultations before signing it into law.
Mutharika, according to the Speakers Office, has lived up to his promise and has thrown back the Bill to National Assembly.
The Speakers office said the bill will be tabled in the next session of Parliament expected to sit next month.
President Mutharika wants legislators to consult widely on the Bill before approving it.
What President Mutharika has done for not signing the controversial bill is commendable. The public debate on the bill clearly showed that marriage age should be more than 16, preferably at 18, said Chimwemwe Chibwana of Lilongwe.
According to the Speakers Office, out of the 16 Bills that were sent to the Head of State, only the Chidyamakanda Bill was not approved.
Youth Net and Counseling (Yoneco) Executive Director, MacBain Mkandawire condemned the Chidyamakanda bill pointing out that if it were approved into law , it could have fuelled maternal mortality in the country through bleeding during births and other reproductive health related conditions such us fistula.
Premature pregnancy carries significant health risks and pregnancy related deaths are the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 years. Early marriage also jeopardizes a girls right to education. In addition, married girls have few social connections, restricted control over resources and little power in their new households and domestic violence is always common in such marriages, said Mkandawire.
The Family Planning Association of Malawi argues that young girls are at higher risk of death because of pregnancy-related complications and that the marriage of 16-year olds is akin to child abuse because, as a minor, they cannot give valid consent.
Additionally, the Convention of the Rights of the Child, a document that Malawi ratified, defines the child as every human below the age of 18 years.
Nyasa Times
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