ZANU PF Matabeleland South senator Alma Mkhwebu has called for the enactment of a law that will protect boys from getting married to older women.
BY NQOBILE BHEBHE
Debating a motion on the enforcement of national laws with a view to end child marriages in the Senate on Tuesday, Mkhwebu said while she supported the protection of girls from early marriages, boys should not be left out.
She said boys were getting married to people much older than them, commonly known as sugar mummies.
“I would like to thank previous speakers and second them that there should be a law on the issue of children who are below 18 years of age,” she said.
“This very law should be properly analysed and scrutinised to make sure that no child could be married before the age of 18 years. ‘We should not only look at the girl child but boys too,” she added.
“There should be a law that supports them because what is happening is that you would be having your boy child and you realise that he gets married to an elderly woman.”
Mkhwebu said there should be laws to protect boys from marrying cougars.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“Boys are getting married to people much older than them. There should be a law that is put in place such that it is not only the girl child who is protected but the boy child as well,” she said.
The motion was introduced in the Senate by Midlands senator Lillian Timveous (MDC-T) last week and seconded by Bulawayo Metropolitan senator Siphiwe Ncube (MDC-T).
If adopted, Timveous’ motion would force the government to enact laws raising the age of marriage to 18 years for both girls and boys.
