Sportlight Underage Marriage in Africa And Its Victim

Many Islamic and semi-Islamic African countries are trying to make underage marriage legal, just like in Nigeria where debates are ranging about child marriage.

A Zimbabwen child bride who is now a scholar speaks on this topic

According to her, she was bound to follow in the footsteps of generations of women before her; early marriage, illiteracy and poverty. "most kids in my village never had a chance to attend pre-school because it didn't exist. Instead, we would spend hours chasing birds and monkeys from our parents' field" she concludes.
Why is underage marriage an issue? Why are many African countries legalizing child marriage?

Supporters of underage marriage , are hinging their argument on religion, Islamic religion in particular, they argue that a girl is a woman when she gets married no matter the age. They even go further to pose this question to anti-child marriage supporters "underage marriage and gay marriage which is better?"

Some Disadvantages of Underage Marriage

Many of us know some of the disadvantages of child marriage, but for the benefits of some let me point them out:
* A child that marries before reaching 18years is bound to experience a life of mistry.
* Her inexperience may lead to provoking the husband which can result to beating.
* As a child who is forced to be an adult she is bound to make mistakes, which she'll later regret.
* Underage marriage leads to frustration, mistry and despair, when that happens to a 14-17 year old well she may commit suicide

A good a example is what happened in Jos Nigeria where a 17 year old girl cut and stabed her husband to death with a knife, reason? When asked by Radio Nigeria one of Africa's top Radio Station the girl said "I don't like how he disturbs me at night, whenever we're in bed"

You see a child is still a child, you can force the horse to stream but you can't force it to drink from the stream, likewise you can force an underage to marry but you can't change the fact that she is underage, as a result she reasons like a child. To her killing her husband is a play thing and the best way to end the problem.

What ever African lawmakers are doing let them be real! Make laws that can help Africa grow.