Councillors resolve to sue pregnant schoolgirls

 

SONGWE District councillors have resolved to prosecute pregnant schoolgirls who refuse to name men who have impregnated them.

They reached the decision during a recent meeting held here and also attended by District Commissioner Jeremiah Samuel. The councilors were dismayed by the increasing rate of pregnancies among schoolgirls who abandon their studies. 

 

“There’s a tendency among parents who prefer to settle cases related to school pregnancies out of court, thus hindering the administration of justice,” the councilors said.

“So far, all the cases which were reported to police and later taken to court have been dismissed for lack of evidence because the complainants do not appear to give evidence.”

“I will not be ready to see our daughter drop out of school due to early pregnancies. I support the decision of prosecuting the schoolgirls who become pregnant, especially those who refuse to reveal names of men who have impregnated them,” Songwe District Council Chairman, Ibrahim Sambila, said.

He said that despite the council’s efforts to dormitories in its secondary schools, some parents have been refusing to allow their children, especially girls, to stay in those buildings.

“We built these dormitories to ensure that students have enough time for studies. Unfortunately, there are many parents who prefer their daughters should walk long distances every day rather than staying in dormitories at their respective schools,” he said.

Sambila said the problem of school pregnancies undermines the right of girls to education.