Early childhood marriage continues to trap girls in cycle of poverty

Patience Makwele

Child marriage is continuing to trap young Namibian girls in a cycle of school dropout, early motherhood and unemployment, raising questions about why the practice persists despite years of interventions and awareness campaigns.

Studies conducted by the ministry of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimate that 18.4% of girls in Namibia marry or enter unions before the age of 18, with the highest prevalence recorded in Kavango East and Kavango West, followed by Kunene and Zambezi regions.

Child rights campaigners say the consequences extend far beyond childhood, with many girls who enter early unions leaving school prematurely and struggling to secure employment later in life.