The ministry’s spokesperson Fred Simwaka told us that so far, they have managed 14% of the target and are reviewing at least 26 laws that will help in their quest.

Ministry’s spokesperson Fred Simwaka told us they target to eliminate 20 percent of the child marriages before end of this year.

Simwaka said, “We have intensified awareness campaigns on the evils of child marriages as well awareness on legal frameworks and also we have been strengthening community based structures to help in the identification and case management.”

Gender activist Emma Kaliya has commended the move but says a lot needs to be done to address the problem.

Kaliya says the issue needs serious attention as child marriages are on a sharp increase in the country.

“The cause is beyond poverty and it is a huge problem and that we need to agree that we are in a huge problem and in a crisis for that matter,” Kaliya said.

The majority of the children that are forced into marriage at a tender age in the country do so because of poverty, according to research.