By Moses Magadza

Windhoek, Namibia – The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) is exploring the establishment of a ‘Chief Theresa Kachindamoto Award and Public Lecture Series’ to accelerate regional efforts to eradicate child marriage and protect the rights of children across the SADC region.

SADC PF Secretary General Ms Boemo Sekgoma on Monday revealed that the idea comes in the wake of the passing last week of Chief Theresa Kachindamoto of Malawi, the traditional leader globally acclaimed as the “Terminator of Child Marriages.”

“Through courage and innovation, she annulled thousands of child marriages, enforced community bylaws, and re-enrolled girls in school, becoming an icon of grassroots leadership in protecting children. Her work must not die,” the SG said.

Child marriage remains a pressing challenge across Southern Africa. According to UNICEF, 30% of young women in Eastern and Southern Africa are married before they reach 18 years, with Mozambique at 53%, Malawi at 38%, and Zimbabwe at 33% among the highest.

While the 2016 SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage provides strong guidance, progress has been uneven, and millions of girls remain at risk.

Peer-reviewed research shows child marriage is linked to early and riskier childbirth, heightened exposure to intimate partner violence, truncated education, and intergenerational cycles of poverty.

“As a region, we cannot afford to slow down. We need innovative, consistent, and sustained leadership at all levels, including parliaments, traditional authorities, and the media,” Ms Sekgoma noted.

Turning to the proposed initiative, she explained that the SADC PF is considering two mutually reinforcing interventions. One is the ‘Chief Theresa Kachindamoto Award’ to honour traditional leaders and journalists or media houses that demonstrate innovation, courage, and measurable impact in fighting child marriage.

Categories may include ‘Traditional Leadership in Ending Child Marriage’; ‘Journalism & Media in Ending Child Marriage ’; and special citations for youth champions, survivor-led initiatives, or parliamentary oversight.

She said the second initiative is the ‘Chief Kachindamoto Public Lecture Series’, which can be institutionalised as part of the SADC PF Plenary Assembly Programme.

“Each lecture will feature a keynote address, a panel with MPs, traditional leaders, and media practitioners as well as the unveiling of the Child Marriage Dashboard, a data-driven snapshot of Member States’ progress in implementing the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage,” she stated.

Ms Sekgoma said an annual call for nominations will enable traditional leaders and journalists to be nominated based on documented impact, while an independent jury comprising representatives from partner organisations, academia, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) will be engaged to ensure fairness and credibility.

As for the public lecture, she said this could be delivered with rotating themes such as law enforcement, social norms, and girls’ education.

“Additionally, each lecture will showcase regional data, holding Member States accountable and encouraging peer learning,” she said.

By linking recognition (award), evidence (dashboard), and dialogue (lecture), the proposed initiative will cement the legacy of Chief Theresa Kachindamoto while inspiring traditional leaders, journalists, policymakers, and communities to intensify action against child marriage.

“Chief Kachindamoto showed us that change is possible, even against deep-rooted practices. The proposed award and lecture series will not only honour her memory but also create an enduring platform to sustain momentum and accountability,” the Secretary General added.

-Moses Magadza is the Media and Communications Manager at the SADC Parliamentary Forum.